So You Think You Can Dance
Dancers skilled in everything from ballroom and ballet to salsa, jive, hip-hop and krumping, all compete to be named the best. Dancers must impress the judges with their moves and rigorous routines in order to survive the auditions and be invited to Hollywood. Producers traveled to Chicago, New York and Los Angeles in search of dancers who represent the soul and rhyth... Read all
Genre: Music, Reality-TV
Cast:Cat Deeley , Nigel Lythgoe , Mark Thompson , Mary Murphy , Mia Michaels , Adam Shankman , Tyce Diorio , Stephen Boss , Travis Wall , Kathryn McCormick , Tabitha Dumo , Izabela Rai , Napoleon Dumo , Allison Holker , Courtney Platt , Stacey Tookey , Comfort Fedoke , Sonya Tayeh
S1.E4 ∙ Hollywood: 50 Cut to 16
The contestants are cut down to twenty-five. Then, the choreographers choose the top sixteen dancers who will be partnered and get to compete on the big stage live.
S1.E5 ∙ Top 16
The top sixteen dancers are partnered and perform on the big stage live. Each contestant reveals a little bit about their childhood dance experiences, along with childhood photos and videos.
S1.E6 ∙ Top 14
One girl and one guy are eliminated based on audience votes. More competition in part two of the show with new partnerships. The bottom six dance for audience votes.
S1.E7 ∙ Top 12
Two are eliminated based on viewer votes. Top twelve perform with new partners. The bottom 4 dance solo to win viewer votes.
S1.E8 ∙ Top 10
Two more dancers are eliminated based on viewer votes. The remaining ten contestants pick new partners to perform two different dance styles. The judges pick the bottom two couples. Each one performs solo to win viewer votes.
S1.E9 ∙ Top 8
Two dancers are eliminated based on viewer votes. The remaining 8 perform two different dance styles. The judges critique both performances after both are performed, with no rehearsal footage. Bottom two couples are chosen and dance.
S1.E10 ∙ Top 6
Two dancers are eliminated. The remaining six contestants pick partners, as well as two different dance styles. The viewers now vote for their favorite dancer out of all six contestants to make it to the finale.
S1.E11 ∙ Top 4
Two are eliminated to reveal the top four contestants. Each of the final four dancers are partnered with each other and perform a solo. A final battle off of improvising ends the show.
S1.E12 ∙ And the Winner Is...
The results are in. The winner, based on nationwide votes, is revealed. Special guests and top 16 perform. The top 4 perform their favorite dances. The Groovaloos perform.
S2.E1 ∙ New York and Charleston Auditions
With new show host, Cat Deeley, the judges/choreographers critique each auditioning dancer in New York City and Charleston.
S2.E2 ∙ Los Angeles Auditions
Dance auditions held at the historic Orpheum theater in Los Angeles. Some get tickets to go straight to Las Vegas, while others stick around to learn choreography. However, most are sent home, rejected.
S2.E3 ∙ Auditions #4: Chicago
Dance auditions in Chicago at The Legendary Chicago Theater.
S2.E4 ∙ Las Vegas Callback
Over 100 contestants, staying at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, battle it out to make it to the top 20. They have to get through Shane Sparks', Mia Michaels', and Brian Friedman's choreography.
S2.E5 ∙ Dancers Cut to 20
The final 10 guys and 10 girls are chosen to go to Los Angeles and compete on stage live. One dancer gets disqualified.
S2.E6 ∙ Top 20
The top 20 contestants are find out who they've been partnered with and perform before a live audience. Footage of rehearsals and interviews are shown.
S2.E7 ∙ Top 20 Results
A recap of the last show's performances, along with judges comments. All 20 contestants perform a dance routine choreographed by Brian Friedman. Special guests perform. Bottom 3 couples dance solo to stay in the competition.
S2.E9 ∙ Top 18 Results
The bottom 3 couples are revealed, based on viewer votes, and each contestant performs a solo to stay in the competition.
S2.E10 ∙ Top 16
The judges show their favorite clips during auditions. Behind the scene footage of the contestants is shown. Hop, Swing and a Jump perform. The top 16 perform.
S2.E11 ∙ Top 16 Results
The bottom 3 couples, based on viewer votes, are revealed. The 6 dancers perform solos to impress the judges and stay in the competition. Natasha Bedingfield performs.
S2.E12 ∙ Top 14 Perform
Unseen auditions and special clips are shown. Lil' C and the Neph Squad perform a krumping routine to "Spaz Meter" by The J-Squad. Top 7 couples perform.
S2.E13 ∙ Top 14 Results
The bottom 3 couples are revealed, based on viewer votes. Each dancer performs a solo to impress the judges and stay in the competition. Ne-Yo performs. One guy and one girl are eliminated.
S2.E15 ∙ Top 12 Results
The viewer votes reveal the dancers in danger of being eliminated from the competition. Solos are performed. The Pussycat Dolls perform. One guy and one girl are sent home.
S2.E16 ∙ Top 10 Perform
The top 5 couples are split up. Contestants are randomly partnered, dance two different styles and a solo. Viewers now vote for their favorite dancer, not favorite couple.
S2.E17 ∙ Top 10 Results
The top 10 dancers open the show with a Wade Robson pop-jazz group routine to the music "Ramalama (Bang Bang)" by Róisín Murphy. The results are revealed based on viewer votes. Bottom 4 perform solos. Chris Brown performs.
S2.E19 ∙ Top 8 Results
The top 8 perform a group Broadway routine choreographed by Tyce Diorio to the music of "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago (musical). Viewer vote results eliminate 2 dancers. Busta Rhymes performs a medley.
S2.E20 ∙ Top 6 Perform
Top 6 perform with randomly picked partners and dance styles, then a solo. Ivan and Natalie - jive and contemporary. Benji and Donyelle - Broadway and hip-hop. Travis and Heidi - smooth waltz and afro-pop.
S2.E21 ∙ Top 6 Results
Show opens with the top 6 contestants performing a contemporary piece, choreographed by Mia Michaels to the music of "Hide and Seek"-Imogen Heap. Musical guest, Omarion, sings "Entourage." Two contestants are eliminated.
S2.E22 ∙ Top 4: The Finale
Top 4 compete for the title of America's favorite dancer. Each contestant dances a solo, with each other and as a group. Benji and Travis dance with each other for the first time, was well as Heidi and Donyelle.
S2.E23 ∙ Finale
The top 20 perform. The final four perform solos and reprise their favorite routines, as well as four of the judges' favorites. America's favorite dancer is revealed. Ciara and Fergie perform. Celine Dion has a message for the winner.
S3.E6 ∙ Top 20
Jamie and Hok dance hip-hop to Eve's "Tambourine", Anya and Danny dance jive to Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend", Lacey and Kameron dance contemporary to Elisa's "Dancing", Sabra and Dominic dance disco to Donna Summer and Westlife's "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)", Ashlee and Ricky dance the Argentine tango, Sara and Jesus dance pop-jazz to "Caberet Hoover" from "The Triplets of Bellville", Jessi and Pasha dance the waltz to Norah Jone's "Come Away with Me", Faina and Cedric dance hip-hop to Lloyd's Get it Shawty", Lauren and Gottleib dance the salsa and Shana and Jimmy dance Broadway style to "Ease on Down the Road" from "The Wiz".
S3.E8 ∙ Top 18
Shauna and Jimmy dance hip-hop to Fat Man Scoop's "U Sexy Girl", Lauren and Neil dance hip-hop to Timbaland's "The Way I Are", Jesse and Pasha dance jazz to dZihan & Kamien's "Stiff Jazz", Jamie and Hok dance the samba to Gabin's "Bang Bang to the Rock 'n' Roll", Sabra and Dominic dance contemporary to The Pretender's "Ill Stand By You", Faina and Cedric dance the foxtrot to Elvis Presley's "You're the Boss", Sara and Jesus dance the Paso Doble to Queen's "We Will Rock You" and Lacey and Kameron dance Broadway style to "All that Jazz" from "Chicago".
S3.E10 ∙ Top 16
The remaining 16 dancers perform. Sara & Jesus krumps to The Game's "It's Okay (One Blood)" choreographed by LiL'C. Shauna & Cedric dance contemporary to The Family Stand's "I Thought We Had" choreographed by Mia Michaels about the "celebration of a goodbye--the beginning of an end" (where, impressed by Cedric, guest judge Debbie Allen offers him a scholarship to her dance academy). Lacey & Kameron dance the quickstep to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's "Big & Bad" choreographed by Tony Meredith. Anya & Danny hip-hop to Timbaland's "Oh Timbaland" choreographed by Dan Karaty. Sabra & Dominic dance the rumba to The Pussycat Dolls' "Stickwitu" choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux, where judge Mary Murphy screamingly proclaims that the couple has "two tickets on the hot tamale train!" Lauren (who was made to rehearse despite the flu) & Neil dance the tango to Sexteto Mayor's "Tanguera" choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux. Jamie & Hok dance jazz to "The Chairman's Waltz" from "Memoirs of a Geisha" choreographed by Wade Robson, imagined as a love story between a hummingbird and a flower. Jessi & Pasha rehearse the cha-cha choreographed by Tony Meredith, but Pasha ends up dancing with Tony's partner, Melanie, to Jennifer Lopez's "Let's Get Loud" because Jessi got hospitalized.
S3.E12 ∙ Top 14
Sabra and Dominic dance hip-hop to Ne-Yo's "Make It Work", Lacey and Kameron do the Hustle to Inner Life's cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Shauna and Cedric dance the mambo to Tito Puente's "Flauta y Timbal", Lauren and Neil dance jazz to Roisin Murphy's "Night of the Dancing Flame", Anya and Danny dance contemporary to One Republic's "Apologize", Sara and Pasha dance West Coast Swing to Fatboy Slim's "Rockafeller Skank" and Jamie and Hok do the waltz to Sarah McLachlan's "Angel".
S3.E14 ∙ Top 12
Sabra and Dominic do the jive to Ryan Shaw's "I Do the Jerk", Jaimie and Hok dance Broadway style to "Mr. Bojangles", Sara and Pasha dance jazz to Queen's "Body Language", Lauren and Neil dance contemporary to Citizen Cope's "Let the Drummer Kick", Anya and Danny do the Foxtrot to Brian Evans' "It Had to Be You" and Lacey and Kameron dance hip-hop to Fergie's "Here I Come".
S3.E16 ∙ Top 10
Lacey and Danny do the samba to "Hip Hip Chin Chin" by Club des Belugas, Sabra and Kameron dance contemporary to Crytal Lewis' "Amazing Grace", Lauren and Pasha dance hip-hop to Pitbull's "Fuego", Sara and Neil dance disco to Rachel Stevens' "Knock on Wood" and Jaimie and Dominic do the Viennese Waltz to the theme from "Man of La Mancha".
S3.E18 ∙ Top 8
Danny and Sara dance the Argentine Tango and Hip-hop, Sabra and Pasha take on Broadway and the quickstep, Lauren and Dominic krump dance and do the rumba and Lacey and Neil do Latin Jazz and contemporary.
S3.E20 ∙ Top 6
Lacey and Pasha dance the waltz and hip-hop, Lauren and Danny boogie down with disco and contemporary, while Sabra and Neil strut their stuff with the Paso Doble and jazz.
S3.E21 ∙ Top 6 Results
Who will be the four finalists to get a chance at being voted as America's favorite dancer?
S3.E22 ∙ Top 4: The Finale
The first part of a two-part finale features the four remaining contestants showing off their best moves for the judges and the audience with the hopes of being named the show's greatest dancer.
S3.E23 ∙ The Finale
The final vote count is in and the audience's favorite dancer is announced live, in this second part of the season finale.
S4.E1 ∙ Los Angeles Auditions
The fourth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" kicked off Thursday night with a two-hour audition show from Los Angeles. Host Cat Deeley and regular judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe were joined by Mia Michaels as they came face to face with the best and, of course, the worst that the dancing world had to offer.Dancers got one minute in front of the judges, and those with overwhelming "yes" votes moved on to the next round in Las Vegas, absolute "no" votes went home, and in-between dancers would be brought back at the end for a second chance in a group choreography routine.The first real joker of the evening was the man they call "Sex," who was making his third audition show appearance and, once again, making a fool of himself. Nigel lambasted the guy, telling him he "must just enjoy watching himself look stupid on television." And Nigel refused to call him "Sex" anymore, either.A visually impaired girl named Laura tried her best, but the judges didn't think her choreography was strong enough to remain in the competition. Mia, though, got very emotional and called the girl an inspiration because she had a close friend who lost their eyesight.Best of the best: Twitch, who just missed a spot in the finals last night, got through to Vegas. Aliona and Leonidis, a ballroom dancing couple, sizzled on the dance floor. Partners Ricky Sun and Asuka Kondoh wowed the judges after just three months together, but Nigel wanted to mix them up during the choreography, and they both got through. 18-year-old athlete Kehrington Payne was impressive and got some great feedback from the judges, who said she had the "it" factor. They saved the best for near last with Robert Muraine, a contortionist and popper who performs on the street in Santa Monica, floored the judges with his moves and welcomed him to Vegas without hesitation.Worst of the worst: Overweight Hamilton Moreno insisted that his weight was his niche, but the judges wanted him to get healthy. Rijiy Ames stripped down to his tighty whities had Nigel covering Mary's eyes as he rolled around. The masked Gold Inferno returned to show off his "jump style." That didn't turn out so well.On the bubble: Phillip Chbeeb, another Vegas reject from last season, scaled back slightly on the humor and worked on the dancing to earn a return trip to Vegas. Breakdancer Victor Kim showed some wild moves, including some incredible handstands and headstands. Both were asked to return to the choreography round. Phillip got through. Victor did not.
S4.E2 ∙ Salt Lake City and Dallas
It was freezing cold outside in Salt Lake City, site of the first set of auditions in Tuesday's two-hour episode of "So You Think You Can Dance?" Would the dancers heat things up inside?Guest judge Mandy Moore (no, not that Mandy Moore) joined judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy for two days in Utah as they came away with 42 dancers who moved on to the Las Vegas audition. As usual, the dancers each had one minute to dance for the judges, after which they'd either get a ticket to Las Vegas for the next round, be sent home, or be asked to join the group choreography routine at the end of the day for a second chance.Best of the best (in Salt Lake City): Chelsea Hightower, whose family had made it through some serious financial hardship, stood out early as a well rounded performer, despite using someone else's partner for her routine. Kelly Baker, daughter of "High School Musical" choreographer Bonnie Story, had a high bar to live up to, but surpassed it was apparent ease as the judges said she was one of the best dancers they'd seen this season. Matt Dorame, in white tube socks and red shorts, mixed ballet with some modern dance and impressed the judges -- in spite of his attire. Nigel asked him never to wear the shorts again in exchange for a ticket to Vegas. Matt agreed.On the bubble: Best friends Kortney Pearson and Michelle Stringham, a couple of 25-year-olds who'd traveled a similar path through marriage and divorce, made it through to the choreography round. Gev Manoukian, who'd undergone more technical dance training after failing to make it to the finals in Season 2, was asked to stay for the group choreography. Ryann Race, a strip club DJ who'd just been dumped by his exotic dancing girlfriend, was a little rough around the edges, but got the judges' second chance. All four of them made it to Vegas.Just for kicks: Brett Banford, who had Down Syndrome, wanted to prove that people with disabilities can live a normal life, and he certainly succeeded with an entertainment hip hop style routine that put a smile on everyone's face. He didn't make it through, but he made his point and left happy.Worst of the worst: Nicole Downer, a stay-at-home mom of four, did a routine that Nigel said you might see in a sitcom or a commercial. Michael Moore (no, not that Michael Moore) said it himself: "Yeah, that was bad." Richard Castaneda wore a "Joseph Smith Is My Homeboy" T-shirt, but no one could save him that day.Deep in the heart of Texas: On to Dallas, where Adam Shankman, director and choreographer of Hairspray (2007), the movie (no, not that Hairspray (1988) movie) served as guest judge.Best of the best: The biggest standout in Dallas was Arielle Coker, who did a partner routine with her friend John Dix. Arielle far outshined her partner and got a ticket to Vegas. John was given a chance to prove himself in the group choreography. He didn't.On the bubble: Dallas beauty queen Paige Jones did a pageant style competitive audition that was mostly a string of movements and lacked any kind of emotion or connection with the music. She got a second chance in the choreography round, as did popper Joshua Allen, who worked some serious body control and height on a wide splits jump. Both of them will get to show some more moves in Vegas.Worst of the worst: Brian Davidson made growling faces and noises at the camera and generally seemed a little unstable. He said he was ready to take his dance wherever the music took him, wherever the vibe took him. It took him home -- quickly. Cassidy Corder, a cheerleader turned self-proclaimed hip hop dancer, gave a pretty bad audition and Nigel said she was one of the worst auditions he'd seen. She said she was nervous and wanted a second chance in the choreography, but she didn't get it. Brianna Gardner squirmed around on the floor for a bit, prompting Nigel to note, "She looks like a very bored stripper."
S4.E3 ∙ Charleston and Washington D.C.
Host Cat Deeley whisked fans away to Charleston, S.C., for the third two-hour night of auditions on "So You Think You Can Dance?" on Thursday night. Joining judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy in the best mannered city in America was choreographer Tice D'Orio,who's worked with Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Paula Abdul, among others.Best of the best: Sheila Kaiser attended the auditions against her dad's wishes. He didn't even wish her luck. She was awesome, and earned a ticket to Vegas. Courtney Galiano wanted to impress Mary, which she did. Her modern dance routine was plenty good enough to earn a trip to Vegas.On the bubble (in Charleston): Anthony and Antowain Hart, twin brothers, got different responses from the judges after their individual auditions. Antowain got better comments from the judges and somehow convinced them to watch the pair dance together, and that got them both through to the group choreography. Antowain made it, and so did Anthony.BJ Harris, a popper from Brooklyn, got his trip to Charleston paid for by some donated funds from his school and said his principal paid for his ticket. He had some pretty amazing moves that earned him a pass to the choreography round. Claire Callaway, who made it to Vegas in Season 2 before injuring her foot, didn't blow the judges away enough to get back too easily. She went to the choreography round. BJ didn't make it. Claire did.Worst of the worst (in Charleston): Syiddah King wore multi-colored socks, but that choice soon became only the second-worst decision she made that day. She did a little bit of hip hop dancing, but Nigel called her a "mover." Abigail Thurman, a swimming instructor, said she was auditioning to find out if she could dance. The answer was a resounding, "No." She took it well, though, as Nigel explained that she's "not a loser, just a (insert unheard but probably not very complimentary expletive here) dancer." Jason Looney, a cross-dressing dude with a beard, did a horrible routine to Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" that prompted Nigel to wonder why Jason was even there. "Not only are you a disgrace to dancing, you're a disgrace to transvestites." Tice said the audition was disrespectful to the other dancers.On to the Nation's Capital: Dancers were jumping around in front of The White House, and that could only mean that "Dance" was hitting Washington, D.C., for the first time in its four seasons. Choreographer Dan Karaty joined Nigel and Mary on the panel.Best of the best: (in D.C.) Brandon Bryant, who auditioned in Season 1 but lied about his age, put on quite a display of modern dance, which a string of impressive leaps, turns and poses. Nigel called Brandon one of the best he's seen, and Mary gave him a scream.On the bubble (in D.C.): Markus Shields, who was dancing in honor of his mother who died when Markus was 12, was asked to return for the choreography. Markus Smith and Deonna Ball did a tandem routine of what they called "D.C. Swing," a combination of several different styles. They came back for the choreography. Deonna didn't make it, and neither did her partner Markus Smith. Markus Shields was the next one up, and he made his mom proud by moving on to the next round.Phucdat Nyugen wore a black track suit and goggles over his eyes before tearing away the track suit and revealing a yellow jump suit underneath. He made it to the choreography. Anthony Bryant, who failed to impress Nigel in the first season audition, wanted to prove his manliness in fatigues and by putting on a "strong acro-tumble routine." It didn't blow the judges away, but it got him into the choreography. Neither Phucdat or Anthony made it to Vegas.
S4.E4 ∙ Milwaukee Auditions
It's fair to say that when most Americans think "dance" they think ... Milwaukee? Well, that was where "So You Think You Can Dance?" made its final stop in the auditions for the 2008 season before heading to Las Vegas for the second round. Who knows what the famous beer brewing city could produce? "Laverne & Shirley's" Milwaukee-based skipping down the street was pretty catchy...After an opening montage that showed judge Nigel Lythgoe having pretty bizarre reactions to hip hop dancers throughout the audition process, it was time to get down to business. Sort of. It seemed like the producers had a little extra time to kill, so they offered up auditions from previous cities that they hadn't shown before.The first was Michael Kim, who auditioned in Washington, D.C., and popped his way to Vegas, where his fate was sealed in Season 2 after failing to make the mark in the samba. Next up were a couple of roommates in the Los Angeles audition. Katee Shean, the first of the duo, made it to Vegas. Her friend, Natalie Reid, got through, too. In D.C., a salsa dancing couple, Janette Manrara and Romulo Villaverde brought the crowd to its feet with some very impressive dips and lifts. But it was only good enough to get them to the choreography round. Janette faced the judges first, and got a ticket to Vegas. Romulo, not so much.Schlemeel, schlemazel...: Husband and wife choreography team Napoleon and Tabitha, who've worked with Kanye West and Christina Aguilera, among others.Best of the best: Bianca Revels, a tap dancer, made it through to Vegas on her first try with some fancy footwork. Evan Kasprzak floored the judges with his '40s and '50s revival that conjured images of Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, earning him a spot in Las Vegas. Kourtni Lind, an interpretive dancer who Nigel thought looked a bit like Uma Thurman, got through to Vegas. Lizz Plott, the second tap dancer of the night, wowed the judges with her freestyle routine.Worst of the worst: Victor Campos donned a mask, and for good reason. He claimed his dance was about the conflict between individuality and societal pressure, but it looked more like it was about the conflict between having talent and, well, you see where this is going.On the bubble: Susie Garcia, a Chirstina Aguilera looking high school teacher from Miami, made it to the choreography, as did Brice Casimir, a Cameroonian immigrant from Arizona who dances for senior citizens and seemed like a genuinely nice guy. His moves were terrific, but the judges wanted him to connect better with them and the audience. Brice didn't make it, but the judges asked him to come back next season. Susie got through.On the second day, Raymond Love, a minister who said he was having trouble connecting in a sexual way with his dance partner, made it to the choreography, but didn't get to Sin City, and that's probably just as well.Just for kicks: James Davis said he'd been preparing for nearly two years with a team of choreographers, but it wasn't looking pretty as he warmed up. It was, as the judges noted, an homage to movie musicals with signature moves from "Footloose," "Stayin' Alive" and perhaps even "Flashdance." Maybe his team of choreographers were just buddies who work at a video store?Hao Hou wore a Native American-looking get up that included a leopard-print sort of wrap around his package that certainly had some folks at the FCC ready to send Fox a letter.Sad story: Yesenia Gomez, who made it deep into the Vegas auditions last season, lost 50 pounds and wanted to give it another go. Her knee gave out during the audition and she broke down, telling the judges that her experience on the show changed her perspective on life. In the end, Nigel told her to get her knee right and come back next year.
S4.E5 ∙ Las Vegas
Auditions in six cities brought more than 200 dancers to Las Vegas for the callbacks on "So You Think You Can Dance?" By the end of the two-hour episode, that group would be hacked to the 20 finalists -- 10 guys and 10 girls -- that will compete for the top prize this season.Host Cat Deeley promised the most competitive Vegas week ever, with the dancers being challenged each day in a different types of choreography. The six-judge panel included husband-and-wife choreography team Tabitha and Napoleon, Mia Michaels and Debbie Allen, who joined regular judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.Leaving so soon? The dancers had one hour to learn a hip hop routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon. One dancer, Robert, a popper who usually performs solo on the streets of Los Angeles, stood around doing the choreography. He considered quitting before Nigel asked him to do his solo. The judges asked him to stay, but he decided to go home anyway.By the end of the first day, 203 dancers performed and only 129 remained. Some of the favorites from previous auditions who didn't make it included Claire, who's injured her foot in the Vegas round in Season 2 and missed Season 3 because she had a baby; Ryan, the strip club DJ; Rebecca from Milwaukee.Sexy and sassy: The dancers were told to wear something "sexy and sassy" for choreographer Tice D'Orio's Broadway routine. Erica, who's made it to Vegas three times, found that her third time wasn't the charm. She cried as she worried about having disappointed her family. Twin brothers Anthony and Antowain were split up, with Anthony sticking around. By lunchtime on Day 2, the group was down to 93.Parlez-vous, foxtrot? Choreographer Jean-Marc Genereux walked the remaining dancers through the foxtrot after lunch, and hip hop dancer Joshua from Dallas. Joshua cried almost uncontrollably as the judges put him and his partner Comfort through to the next round. Pageant girl Paige from Dallas, and her foxtrot partner Will, were both asked to dance for their lives later because they were both so bad with the ballroom dance. Paige just doesn't show enough grace and elegance in her dance to make it through. Will also didn't make it.At 8 p.m., after starting their day at 7:30 in the morning, Cat told the remaining dancers that Day 2 was not yet over. The dancers would split into groups, which would each randomly select a CD and choreograph a dance to the selected music. Then, they had to practice through the night in order to perform first thing in the morning.Top o' the morning: The group choreography resulted in just four cuts, including single mom Kortney from the Salt Lake City audition.Sleepless in Vegas: Mia Michaels' contemporary choreography was proving to be too much for several dancers after a night without sleep. Tap dancer Lizz were struggling to keep up, but Mia thought she did "a great job." After going on a rant about how tired her body was, though, the judges gave her the boot. She promised to glue her mouth shut next year. Jeremiah, a contemporary dancer, walked off stage during the routine because he couldn't get the choreography and the judges sent him home.By the end of the round, 47 dancers remained, but nine had to dance for the lives to stick around, including an early favorite: hip hop dancer Twitch.Dominic pulled a muscle, but was driven out of the Planet Hollywood Resort in an ambulance. His journey was over. Twitch and three others made it through.One last step: All the dancers were asked to do a final solo that would have a lot of bearing on their future in the competition.Kelly Baker, the daughter of "High School Musical" choreographer Bonnie Story, was the first to go home. Anthony Hart, whose twin brother Antowain were home earlier in the Vegas round, also went home.The Top 20:Gev ManoukianKourtni LindJoshua AllenRayven ArmijoMatt DorameCourtney GalianoWilliam WingfieldKatee SheanTwitch BossKherington PayneJamie BayardChelsie HightowerChris JaroszJessica KingMark KanemuraSusie GarciaMarquis CunninghamChelsea TrailleThayne Jaspersonand...Comfort Fedoke
S4.E7 ∙ Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated
The first results show of the season on "So You Think You Can Dance?" started with a bizarre group dance that included judge Nigel Lythgoe getting kidnapped, bound and gagged and left at the center of the stage awaiting host Cat Deeley to free him.Cat quickly explained the process once again, saying that the three couples with the least votes will dance for their lives, performing solos in their own style. In the end, the judges will decide on one guy and one girl who will go home. Dan Karaty again joined Lythgoe and Mary Murphy on the judging panel.To the results: Cat called out the first three couples, including Kherington & Twitch, who received a huge ovation from the crowd after their Broadway routine from Tuesday. They were safe. Chelsea & Thayne were up next for a recap of their cha cha. Before getting those results, though, Cat talked up Chelsie and Mark for a reminder of their Mia Michaels contemporary dance routine. Both couples were safe.Four more couples came onto the stage, with Matt & Kourtni's jazz routine to Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" proving not good enough to keep them out of the bottom three. Mary said "the first cut is the deepest, and this one's really going to hurt," but she said she was looking forward to their individual routines. Susie & Marquis' smooth waltz was good enough to keep them safe for another week without complications. The next spot in the bottom three came down to Comfort & Chris and Rayven & Jamie, and it was Rayven & Jamie that fell to the bottom. Nigel reiterated that he didn't think their performance was memorable and that there was a possibility that Rayven pulling down Jamie's pants offended some voters.With one spot in the bottom three waiting to be claimed, the final three couples took the stage to get their results. Katie & Joshua's war-inspired hip hop dance kept them safe. That left Jessica & Will, whose tango sizzled and had Mary telling them they were the couple to beat, and Courtney & Gev, whose disco dance missed the mark for Nigel, to find out which of them would be in the bottom. Jessica & Will slipped to the bottom three, which surprised Karaty, who said, "I do not think that they deserve to be in the bottom three."The bottom six: Kourtni, Matt, Rayven, Jamie, Jessica and Will. The six dancers would later perform solos in hopes of impressing the judges enough to keep them safe.Guest appearances: Poppin' Pete and Shonie, poppers who are among the innovators of the style, did a fun bit of choreography. Later, The Pussycat Dolls would perform their new single, "When I Grow Up."Flying solo: Kourtni Lind was the first dancer to go solo for the judges. She still looked a little shaken and appeared emotional after her performance and seemed to have had it cut off just as it was about to get interesting. Matt was up next with a little contemporary bit. Rayven did a "rock princess ballerina" routine. West Coast swing dancer Jamie showed some nifty moves. Jessica, another contemporary dancers, tried to pull the crowd into it. Will, also a contemporary dancer, relied on some big jumps and balancing moves for his solo.Cat asked Nigel, Mary and Dan to go backstage to deliberate about their decision.Exit, stage left: Nigel said the decision on which girl would go home was unanimous. He asked Kourtni to step forward and asked her to inject what they saw in her solo into her couples routines. Nigel told Rayven and Jessica that they were both disappointing and told Jessica she'd continue in the competition while Rayven went home.On to the guys, Nigel asked Will to step forward. He told Will that he was disappointed to see Will in the bottom three, called him "an incredible dancer" and said he has everything he needs to get to the finale. Nigel said if they could fuse Jamie's personality and Matt's technique, they'd be ideal. Nigel said the judges went with technique over personality in deciding to keep Matt in the competition. That meant Jamie went home.
S4.E8 ∙ The Top 18 Perform
It was down to the final 18 Tuesday on "So You Think You Can Dance?" as Mia Michaels joined judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. She promised that this season is going to be "benoodles," which she explained meant "insane." She said there are a few dancers in the final that she won't be sad to see leave, but the majority are fantastic.Chelsea & Thayne: The dancers' intros would include a video bit on what their partners' best and worst qualities are about each other. Thayne said Chelsea is always positive and she said he's always smiling and in a good mood. On the bad side, he said she falls asleep too much and she said he's too superstitious. The couple picked a jazz routine with choreographer Mandy Moore. Mia said it was a great concept, but wasn't executed well at all. Mary agreed, saying she didn't believe the chemistry the way she did with the couple the previous week. Nigel, too, didn't like it and spent much of the time knocking their wardrobe, which he emphasized was not their fault.Chelsie & Mark: Mark said Chelsie's hair smells good and she complimented his quirkiness. On the flip side, she said he's quiet and reserved while she's kind of loud. He said she's like a pesky little sister and hits him. The couple pulled the Argentine tango with choreographer Alex Da Silva. At the end of the dance, host Cat Deeley helped Chelsie get her pinky toe back in her shoe. Mia said she loved Chelsie and Mark and said she "adores" them. Mary said she loved everything about the dance. Nigel pretended like he was going to put a damper on all the praise, but he didn't. He said he loved it but thought Chelsie could have been a bit "sleazier," which is what the dance calls for.Jessica & Will: Will said the best thing about Jessica is her joyful personality, and Jessica said his best feature is that he's so focused and professional. She added that sometimes he's too serious and he said that she suffers internal battles that make her question her ability. The couple pulled a hip hop routine with choreographers Cicily and Olisa. Mia said the choreography "is ridiculous," which she meant as a good thing. She said Jessica wasn't believable and it was like she wasn't on the stage; then she called Will a genius. Mary agreed, saying Will is a force to be reckoned with. Nigel gave Jessica a bit of a pass saying that he thought she did a good job. He reiterated that he thought Will would be in or near the final.Kourtni & Matt: Matt said his favorite feature about Kourtni is her eyes, and she said the best thing about him is that he always compliments her. She said the worst thing about Matt is his singing, but he said the worst thing about her is that she doesn't have an ear for good singing. The couple that survived elimination last week pulled the foxtrot with choreographer Jean-Marc Genereux. Mia called the dance "great, old Hollywood elegance." She said Matt was fantastic, but that the only time Kourtni feels strong is when her leg is in the air. Mary loved the choreography but the rest was a mixed bag. She didn't like the footwork from either of the dancers because she expected better and said she was "slightly disappointed." Nigel said he wasn't disappointed, but he said it was a bit of a fake performance.Courtney & Gev: Courtney said the best thing about Gev is that he's really strong, and he said the best thing about her is that she's really pretty while the worst thing is that she's got a boyfriend. She said the worst thing about Gev is that he's short, which makes them both look pretty short. They pulled a contemporary piece by Mandy Moore. Mia said Courtney did a good job but she is going to start expecting more from her. She was "so proud" of Gev. Mary screamed that she loved it and their chemistry is "killer" together. Nigel liked it overall, but said the emotional wasn't there.Katee & Joshua: Katee said her favorite thing about Joshua is that he's a caring partner. He said he loved her smile, which makes him smile. She said the worst thing about Joshua is that he's always nit-picking her, and he doesn't like this sort of hands-behind-her-head dance she does when killing time. The couple picked a Broadway dance with Tice D'Orio. Nigel jumped out of his chair and started replaying some of the steps, shouting, "That's what I've been waiting for tonight!" He said it was "entertainment at its best." Mary said she loved it, very enthusiastically. Mia said there wasn't much more to add, but she said she wouldn't be surprised to see Joshua in the top four.Susie & Marquis: Marquis said that Susie's best feature is that she always has energy and she said she loves that Marquis is that he's a goofball. She said the worst thing about him is that he is constantly eating, which gives him bad breath when they dance close. He said the worst thing about her is that her wild hair always smacks him in the face. They pulled a salsa with choreographer Alex Da Silva. Susie cried when she overheard Alex saying that she's "not really a salsa dancer, she's more of a street salsa dancer." Mia said she loved the choreography but wasn't crazy about the performance, saying Marquis was too much. She said Susie was hot but she didn't meet the high expectations. Mary said it wasn't working for her, either. She said they had no chemistry. Nigel said there were too many mistakes and that it wasn't fiery enough.Kherington & Twitch: Twitch said he enjoys Kherington's reassuring positivity, and she said the best thing about him is that he's really muscular and she knows he won't drop her. Twitch said the worst thing about Kherington is her strong legs, because she's always accidentally kicking him. She said the worst thing about Twitch is that he wears fake glasses (frames that have no lenses). They pulled the Viennese waltz, choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux. He had a unique connection to the song, which was inspired by his daughter, who has lost all her motor skills. Mia said she loved the whole essence of it, but said she found Kherington's constant smile was "a little glossy." This caused a bit of a stir as Nigel jumped in and said he loved Kherington's smile and found it uplifting. Mary got emotional as she told the couple how much she loved it. Nigel said Kherington flowed, had grace and had beauty. He also noticed that on a simple step, the couple breathed together and felt the music together.Comfort & Chris: Comfort said she loved that Chris is so humble and he said the best thing about her is that she's versatile. He said the worst thing is that she talks fast, and she said the worst thing is that he sweats a lot. The couple pulled a krump routine with Lil' C, which forced Chris to call upon his inner tough guy. Mia said she's a huge fan of Lil C's work and said she's a huge fan of Comfort. She said she could tell Chris worked really hard because he pulled it off. Mary said Comfort could've "hit it harder" and that Chris was outshined by her. Nigel told Chris, "My granny is more gangsta than you." He also said he expected "far more" from Comfort than he got.
S4.E9 ∙ Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated
After a slamming hip hop routine to open the show -- it ended with Gev holding a headstand for what seemed like five minutes, and host Cat Deeley couldn't even throw him off by tickling his ribs -- it was time to eliminate two more dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance?"As usual, the bottom three couples would be asked to perform individual routines in their own styles, with the judges making the final decision on which guy and which girl would go home. Guest judge Mia Michaels again joined regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.To the results: After those quick introductions, Cat brought the first three couples to the stage to hear their results. The first up for judgment was Katee & Joshua, who were safe after the judges loved their performance and the viewers seemed to agree. Up next were Kherington & Twitch and Chelsea & Thayne. Kherington & Twitch wowed the judges, for the most part, with their moving Viennese waltz, while the judges didn't seem to buy the passion delivered by Chelsea & Thayne. The first couple into the bottom three was Chelsea & Thayne. Kherington & Twitch were safe. Mia said she wasn't surprised by the vote at all, and knew that Chelsea and Thayne weren't surprised, either.The next set of three couples came on to the stage, and the first to get results was Chelsie & Mark, whose tango had the judges in a good mood. They were safe. Up next were Kourtni & Matt, who left the judges with a lukewarm reaction, and Jessica & Will, who got some lopsided reviews from the judges. They loved Will but didn't think Jessica kept up. Cat got a little playful, announcing, "The second couple in the bottom three is ... not you, Kourtni & Matt." While that couple celebrated and Will & Jessica got sad, she surprised them by announcing, "Jessica and Will ... it's not you either!" It was a mini-riot as all four dancers jumped into a group hug and ran wildly off stage to join the other safe couples.Seriously, this time: The next couple on the block was Susie & Marquis, whose salsa wasn't spicy enough for the judges. They became the second couple in the bottom three. Mary said the couple had a tough time on Wednesday, which can happen to anyone on this show. That meant the final couple in the bottom three would be either Comfort & Chris or Courtney & Gev. First, Comfort & Chris, who krumped and had the judges giving Chris a bit of a hard time, with Nigel telling Chris, "My granny is more gangsta than you." Courtney & Gev got somewhat mixed results from the judges. But what did the voters think? Chris & Comfort got the bad news, that they were the final couple in the bottom three. Nigel said this couple has "never really had a go of it yet." He said it would be good to see them do "what they do and why they're here."Special guest:After the bottom six dancers were finalized, Cat introduced guest dancer Timo Nunez, whom she called the America's Number 1 flamenco dancer (umm, did he win a reality show for that title, or what?).To the solos: Chelsea was the first perform her solo, a contemporary piece that showed some nice movement. Thayne kicked off his contemporary bit with a front flip and offered some more big jumps. Susie looked to heat up the stage with her Latin flair, followed by Marquis, whose bit was all about big movements and body control. Comfort hit the stage hard with her krumping and hip hop combination. Chris' modern dance was nice, but would it be enough to save him? The judges left to deliberate over which guy and which girl would go home.Another guest: Flo Rida stopped by to perform his song, "In the Air."The verdict is in: Nigel told a heartwarming story about how whomever would be sent home could still be a winner despite being a loser. Nigel first asked Chelsea to step forward and told her that she really needs to step up, but that, for this night, she was safe. He next told Susie that she's not lighting up the stage anymore. He then called upon Comfort and told her she has never found her potential on the show, but that perhaps the opening dance of the results show started her back on the right track -- and that was why they decided to keep her. That meant Susie was going home.Next up were the guys, and Nigel noted that the three "contemporary boys" were standing in the bottom three. Nigel told Thayne he's got a lot of potential. He told Marquis that the judges were worried that everything he did in his solo was "tricks, and not dance," and the judges all felt that isn't what the show is about. Nigel then pointed out that he's asked Chris to bring his personality out and that he's "most certainly doing that" and that he danced with a great deal of passion. In the end, it was Marquis going home.
S4.E10 ∙ The Top 16 Perform
It was down to eight couples Wednesday night on So You Think You Can Dance? as choreographer and general friend of the show Adam Shankman joined regular judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. Mary said this would be the shows best year ever because at this point in past seasons they've generally had a better idea of who the front-runners are. Nigel took a moment to pay tribute to legendary dancer and actress Cyd Charisse, who died last week. He and Adam suggested that folks go rent some of her classic movies, including Singin' in the Rain (1952), The Band Wagon (1953), Silk Stockings (1957) and Brigadoon (1954). Nigel called her a remarkable woman and real star of dance.Host Cat Deeley said each couple would say a bit out their partners before each dance.Kherington & Twitch: Kherington said that something America doesn't know about Twitch is that he has a huge laugh, like a bear. Twitch said Kherington has a huge shopping problem, saying she's bought about 427 shoes, "easily," in the three weeks they've been on the show together. The couple pulled hip hop with choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo. Twitch worried the judges would be tougher on him because hip hop is his forte. Nigel said they're both brilliant dancers with a spirit and energy that goes beyond dancing, and praised the choreography. As he went to "list the negatives," he couldn't think of anything. Mary said Kherington stepped up to the plate and that Twitch "just killed it" in his own style. Adam said it was awesome, but gave some very minor suggestions for improvement in the future.Courtney & Gev: Courtney said that Gev looked like a little girl when he was younger. Gev shared that Courtney is going to school for special needs students, which shows was a great person she is. Someone's got a crush. They pulled the rumba with choreography by Tony Merida and Melanie LaPatin. The sultry choreography "required" Gev to grab Courtney's butt and thighs, which he "begrudgingly" went along with. It was pretty smokin', and Courtney's barely-there (at least on one half) dress added to the spice factor. Nigel said he was very happy with the routine and said they make a fabulous couple. Mary thought it was great and praised Courtney for nailing some tough parts of the choreography. Adam said he "really, really loved it." Adam rambled on with very minor suggestions for future performances that eventually put Nigel and Mary to sleep.Comfort & Chris: Comfort said about Chris that he's a big moocher when it comes to food. He said about Comfort that when she was younger, she was in a beauty pageant, which shows there's a softer side to Comfort. They pulled a jazz routine with choreographer Tice D'Orio, but Tice said he preferred to do "African jazz." Nigel wondered whether the couple should feel confident after their performance. He said the intensity of the dance didn't match the driving beat of the music ("The Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson). Mary agreed, saying the best part was the very beginning "and then it just started to fall, for me." Adam said it was a giant performance piece and sometimes they were there and sometimes they weren't.Jessica & Will: Will revealed about Jessica that she goes by the nickname of "Ariel," because she used to have very long red hair that looked like "The Little Mermaid." Jessica said that Will is an absolute gentleman whose momma raised right. They got a disco routine from choreographer Doriana Sanchez. Doriana said that Jessica was fooling around a bit too much and had to take it a little more seriously. Nigel said disco can appear to be very cheesy when you dance it badly, but he thought they dance it "very, very well," but that in a couple of parts they messed up. Still, "whatever the mistakes were, you carried them off." Mary agreed and noted that the routine was "incredibly difficult." She said they owned that routine and said she was proud of them. Adam said Jessica is a great dancer but has to stop getting in her own way with her lack of confidence.Kourtni & Matt: Matt talked about Kourtni that she has a small tattoo on the back of her neck that reads, "... and so she would dance." Awww. Kourtni revealed that Matt has a ninja mask that he likes to wear. The couple got a contemporary routine and worked with first-time guest choreographer Sonya Tayeh, who said she's in love with the show. The routine was about a couple of cartoon characters who flirt with each other. Nigel said they showed every bit of technique that they've got. He said he'd still like to see Matt relax a bit more. Mary said there was "something weird" going on their routine, but she was buying it. Adam also praised their control and their bodies, and said he was mad at the wardrobe department for putting Kourtni in what he called a shopping bag.Chelsea & Thayne: Chelsea told America that Thayne wanted to be a fashion designer and suggests things for Chelsea to wear. He said Chelsea is a flower thief, stealing flowers from gardens and hotel lobbies. They pulled the quickstep with choreographer Heather Smith. Nigel said it was a little too bouncy in places and that they didn't really show their personalities. He said it was "a much better attempt" than he thought it was going to be. He said they'd better get their solos ready. Dang! Mary said it was a difficult dance to pull off, and said it was "OK," which is pretty good. Mary took Chelsea off her "Hot Tamale Train" and said Thayne was just barely hanging on. Adam said they didn't look comfortable.Chelsie & Mark: Chelsie said that Mark's pinkies are crooked, and that's something America might not know about him. He said Chelsie is a tomboy when she is not on stage. They pulled a hip hop routine by Napoleon and Tabitha. Cat dared Nigel to say something bad about the routine, which had the crowd roaring. He praised Napoleon and Tabitha, and told Chelsie that there was plenty of passion in her performance, which was something he knocked the week before. Mary agreed with Nigel, saying she really believed the struggle in their routine. Adam literally jumped out of his seat and shouted, "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" He called them the couple to beat.Katee & Joshua: Katee said America might think that Joshua is a tough guy, but he's really a softy. Joshua said that one thing America should know about Katee is that she screams a husky scream, "like a boy." They got the samba with choreographers Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin. Katee had to step out of her comfort zone to put forth the kind of sensual performance the samba demanded. She got the other half of Courtney's dress, but it was dyed purple (Courtney's was blue). Nigel said that what's so sexy about Katee is that she doesn't over-exaggerate her moves. Nigel then commented on Joshua's spandex pants and asked if he got "those buns from your daddy?" He asked Joshua's dad, who was in the crowd, to stand and show off the goods. Mary said it was hot and put them on her "Hot Tamale Train." Adam agreed with all of it and told Katee not to ever say she isn't pretty or sexy again.
S4.E11 ∙ Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated
After some kind of freakish group dance routine that's definitely going to cause some nightmares, it was time to find out which two contestants would be sent home on "So You Think You Can Dance?" on Thursday.Host Cat Deeley handled the duties of introducing guest judge Adam Shankman, who again joined regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. Cat said it was time to get right to business and introduced the first three couples that would get news on whether they were still in the competition for $250,000 and a chance to perform in Las Vegas. The bottom three couples would perform solo routines before the judges decide which guy and which girl were out.To the results: First up were Chelsea & Thayne, who saw highlights of their quickstep from Wednesday's show, which failed to impress the judges. Nigel even said the couple should "get their solos ready." Nigel was right, and Mary said that none of the judges were surprised that they were in the bottom three.Next were Katee & Joshua, who danced a samba that had the judges fired up -- in a good way. Joshua said that when he saw they had to do a samba, he thought he'd have to work on his solo. He was wrong. They were safe. Chelsie & Mark, who performed a hip hop routine that had Adam jumping out of his chair, got the results next. Safe.Kherington & Twitch, who opened Wednesday's show with a "Prison Break"-inspired hip hop dance that left Nigel with nothing negative to say, were safe. Courtney & Gev, whose rumba was smoking hot and had the judges heaping praise upon them, were also safe. That left Comfort & Chris, whose Tice D'orio jazz routine failed to connect with the judges. They got the news they were dreading, and fell into the bottom three. Adam said he wasn't surprised they were in the bottom three and said the lesson for them was that they have to invest more than just technique because the piece needed more than just dancing.Two couples remained: Kourtni & Matt, who played comic strip characters in a contemporary dance choreographed by new guest choreographer Sonya Tayeh; and Jessica & Will, whose disco routine mostly pleased the judges. The final couple into the bottom three was ... Kourtni & Matt. Nigel said Kourtni had been sensational early in the process, but now he wasn't so sure. He said the other competitors have more of a twinkle in their eye than she has lately. To Matt, Nigel said he wasn't immersing himself into the roles he was being asked to play in his routines.Be our guest: The dance group Quest, including "SYTYCD" alums Ryan, Dominic and Hok, stopped by to perform a pretty manic breakdancing and tumbling routine, complete with flips, handstands and backspins. Later, "American Idol" Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks performed her song, "One Step at a Time."Flying solo: Chelsea was the first to go solo, doing a bit in her contemporary style. Thayne went next, busting out some Bon Jovi for a quick contemporary routine. Comfort, up next, was all about the swagger as she hit the stage hard with her popping. Chris spun around the floor for a while with his quick contemporary routine. Kourtni, another contemporary dancer, threw her heart into a rhythmic routine. Matt stayed light on his toes with his contemporary dance.The verdict: Nigel had a message for all six dancers: They've all been in the bottom three at least twice or three times in the three weeks, and they have to find whatever it is they're missing. To the girls, Nigel didn't waste much time, asking Chelsea to step forward and immediately telling her it was the end of the road for her.Turning to the guys, Nigel asked Matt to step forward and said, "I'm sorry, I keep hitting on you every week, and I can only apologize." He said Matt's solo was brilliant, and told him to go sit down. He was safe. After two chances, Chris ran out of chances and was sent home. That made for a partner switch for the first time all season, as Chris' departure left Thayne to dance with Comfort next week.
S4.E12 ∙ The Top 14 Perform
Host Cat Deeley promised at the outset that the final 14 dancers will face some changes and the competition would get more difficult for the final seven couples. She soon explained that each of the couples would have to dance twice for the first time this season.Hip hop choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo served as guest judges, joining regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.Jessica & Will: Jessica and Will provided the first dance of the night, which was the jive. It came complete with an impressive flip that left the crowd in awe, but the judges pointed out some technical flaws. Mary said there were a lot of missed connections and Nigel harped on Jessica a bit, saying that she was a little lazy with some of her movements. For their second dance, the couple got a jazz routine that included using a shirt as a prop. Tabitha made some remarks about loving watching Will dance without a shirt on, but said she also enjoyed the dancing. Napoleon said he felt like Jessica was holding Will down, after saying Will could go far in the competition. Mary said it was fire, saying they were both outstanding and put them both on the "Hot Tamale Train." Nigel praised Jessica for overcoming her own worries about her ability, and said "everyone will be picking up the telephone" to vote for that routine.Comfort & Thayne: New partners Comfort and Thayne first performed a Broadway routine to "Cool" from "West Side Story." Tabitha said the new partners were a good match and that she was "lovin' it." Mary agreed that it was a "great new partnership." Nigel said the performance was meant to have big bursts of passion, and that "wasn't there." He said it wasn't good enough and that they would have been booed off Broadway. Comfort and Thayne's second dance was a waltz that was all about long lost loves. Napoleon said he wasn't a waltz expert, but he really enjoyed it. Tabitha said she wasn't crazy about Thayne. Mary said she is a waltz expert and she "loved it." Nigel agreed that it was great and said it was "tremendous."Kourtni & Matt: Contemporary dancers Kourtni and Matt took on a hip hop routine that Tabitha thought they did OK with, but Napoleon chimed in by saying that it wouldn't have worked at a hip hop competition. Mary said that even though it was groovy and slow, it still should have made the judges feel something. She said she liked it, but didn't "feel" anything. Nigel said there was nothing to get a hold of and called it "hip hop on sleeping pills." Kourtni and Matt went from hip hop to mambo, which Kourtni called the hardest dance she's ever tried to do. Tabitha said she was hot and cold on it. Mary excitedly said Kourtni was hot, but as a couple the chemistry wasn't there. Nigel said it was a tough routine, but said it had to be sharper. To Matt, in particular, he said he needed to see better.Chelsie & Mark: The first dance from Chelsie and Mark was a jazz routine that they were worried was a little fast. Tabitha praised the couple for being able to tell a story regardless of what they're given. Napoleon agreed, saying they perform together well. Mary sighed and acted like she was going to say something bad, but then shouted "I Just loved it!!!" Nigel said he didn't feel like it was fast because it just worked. For their second dance, Chelsie was at home with the foxtrot but had to help her partner Mark through it a bit. Chelsie wrapped up the dance with a feather in her mouth that she didn't let bother her a bit, which Tabitha enjoyed. Mary said there were some difficult moves, but they pulled off the routine. Nigel said Mark looked a little uncomfortable.Kherington & Twitch: Kherington and Twitch first treated the crowd to a paso doble that was wild, dramatic and had the matador in Twitch coming out, according to Napoleon. Tabitha said it was a slow build and said Twitch couldn't embrace his character until halfway through. Mary said it was full of passion, but said it was "just OK" before relenting and saying she was entertained. Nigel said Twitch came up a little short. A contemporary routine from Mia Michaels was up next for Kherington and Twitch, whose routine included a mattress that they each took turns jumping on while tossing flowers in the air. Tabitha said it was "awesome, awesome, awesome..." and Napoleon loved the storytelling. Mary said Michaels outdid herself this time. She said "passion is a fever and I think mine just went up." Nigel said the couple was committed to the routine and said it was a thoroughly entertaining, then he put them in his top three couples.Katee & Joshua: Katee said she'd been wanting to work with Mia Michaels for weeks, and now that she got her chance she didn't want to let her down. Joshua was speechless after the performance, getting almost emotional as he said, "It's just so much more than dancing." Tabitha said she loved every bit of it, and Napoleon agreed that Joshua and Katee "just get it." Mary loved it and said the couple has yet to miss this season. She praised Katee, in particular. Nigel said it was a routine that is simple in look, but really difficult to do and it proved that Joshua and Katee are one of the few couples that will make this season outstanding. For their second dance, Katee and Joshua took on the west coast swing. Tabitha said it was a fun little number. Mary said she enjoyed it very much. Nigel praised Joshua and Katee for their ability to adapt to styles.Courtney & Gev: Courtney was excited about doing hip hop, but Gev was nervous about trying the east coast style. Dressed in matching Eli Manning jerseys, they hit the stage hard, but Napoleon worried that Gev didn't keep up with Courtney. Tabitha, too, said Gev's hits were bouncy but she was "feeling" Courtney. Mary agreed that Gev didn't hit it hard enough, but Courtney was impressive. Nigel said it was more funky than hip hop and it felt like "Cinderella getting ugly." A Broadway routine was up next for Courtney and Gev. Napoleon praised Gev for getting into his character and said he might have found his niche. Mary said it worked and said Courtney and Gev could find themselves in the finals. Nigel said they gave it all they could give, and that was good enough for him.
S4.E13 ∙ Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated
After a wild opening Broadway routine choreographed by Tice D'Orio, it was time to cut two more contestants on Thursday's episode of "So You Think You Can Dance?" But first, viewers were treated to a montage of D'Orio ripping into dancers during the earliest audition rounds.To the results: Soon, host Cat Deeley called for the first two couples to come to center stage. Twitch & Kherington were the first two to hear their results, after a recap of their performances from Wednesday. Twitch didn't get great support from the judges on the couple's paso doble, but they loved Kherington & Twitch's contemporary routine.Before getting their results, Joshua & Katee's Wednesday performances were recapped. The judges loved virtually everything they did. Cat teased both couples, asking, "Which of you are the first in danger tonight?" She told Joshua and Katee, "it's not you." Then, after a pause, she told Kherington and Twitch, "it's not you, either!" There was much jumping, cheering and celebration. But that meant that three of the remaining five couples were in trouble. Who would they be?Next to the stage were Kourtni & Matt were reminded of how the judges didn't really buy their hip hop routine, especially Nigel's quip that it was "like hip hop on sleeping pills." The mambo didn't serve them much better. Cat read the result and told them they were the first couple in the bottom three for the third consecutive week. Guest judge Tabitha Dumo said she was disappointed because she felt good about Kourtni, and co-guest judge Napoleon said he felt the same way about Matt.Courtney & Gev and Chelsie & Mark were the two couples remaining. Courtney and Gev saw a recap of how the judges thought Courtney outshined Gev in their hip hop routine. The judges were more impressed with their Broadway performance. Chelsie & Mark had blown the judges away with their jazz routine, and equally impressed with their foxtrot. So, who was in danger? Courtney and Gev fell to the bottom three. Judge Nigel Lythgoe first joked that "they're little people and I don't think America likes little dancers." In seriousness, he said it didn't mean they were going home and said it was "no big deal" and whether they stayed in the competition depended on their solos.Two couples remained: Comfort & Thayne and Jessica & Will. Comfort and Thayne's first performance together was just decent and Nigel said they would have been booed off Broadway. Their waltz got more favorable reviews from the judges. Jessica and Will got some of their best reviews of the season, but the judges still thought Jessica wasn't holding her own in their first performance. The final couple in the bottom three was Comfort & Thayne. Judge Mary Murphy forgave them for being a new couple and said they had both been huge assets to the show.Be our guest: Cat introduced Robert Moraine, one of the most impressive poppers from this season's auditions who gave up in the Las Vegas because the variety of dancers were too much for him to handle, gave another awesome popping performance. Nigel said he enjoyed it, but wanted to see a dance battle between Robert and Phillip Chbeeb from Season 3. Robert accepted the challenge and Cat suggested it might happen during the season finale. Later, One Republic, whose first-ever TV appearance was on "So You Think You Can Dance?" last season, performed their new song, "Say (All I Need)," from their debut album "Dreaming Out Loud."To the solos: The six dancers in danger had to dance for their lives. Kourtni, Matt, Courtney and Gev were up first. Kourtni and Matt's solos were comparable to what they'd done in the similar position the previous two weeks. Courtney and Gev gave more stunning performances, including Gev's jumps into a backspin three times. Finally, Comfort and Thayne gave their solos. Comfort's seems to lack the energy she'd shown in the past and Thayne gave a more complete performance to Queen's "I Want to Break Free."The verdicts are: Nigel began the reading of the final results by saying that in seven seasons of running "American Idol" and three-plus seasons of judging on "So You Think You Can Dance?" he's never really care as much for the contestants as he does this season. He said he was looking forward to a couple of weeks from now, when America takes over the decision of who stays and who goes. "Tonight is really tough, we are not unanimous," he said. He asked Courtney Galiano to step forward and told her she was safe. Nigel then asked Comfort to step forward and told her she didn't get his vote because he didn't think her solo was strong enough. But she got other votes and remained in the competition. That meant Kourtni Lind was going home.For the guys, Nigel asked Gev to step forward and said the judges were "absolutely delighted" and "thrilled" with his solo. He was safe. Nigel then told Thayne and Matt that the decision between them was difficult, but unanimous. He told Matt that he started the competition at a high level, but didn't improve and that was why he was going home.
S4.E14 ∙ The Top 12 Perform
Host Cat Deeley reminds viewers that the final six couples will be competing for a place in "your" Top10. We're introduced to the final 12 dancers, followed by judges Mia Michaels, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythegoe.Chelsie & Mark: Up first for the couple is an Alex Da Silva-choreographed salsa (mmm, salsa), featuring tricks Chelsie thinks are "insane." Nigel says it was a "great routine to open the show," praised the footwork of both dancers and makes a thinly veiled and disturbing erection reference. The routine "worked" for Mary, who singled out Chelsie as "phenomenal." Mia thought the routing was "smoking-hot," but thought Mark was awkward. Routine No. 2 was a Broadway number by Tyce Diorio which Nigel thought was hotter than Las Vegas. Mary raved that it was bluesy and sultry, though Mia was lukewarm on both dancers.Comfort & Thayne: Starting with a hip-hop number choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo, Thayne fears he will look a "major white boy." Nigel thought the couple performed the moves capably but didn't think the two add of their personality and predicted we will again see them in the bottom three. Mary didn't think there was any chemistry and Mia was worried neither is doing enough to stay in the competition. The couple went contemporary for its second routine, with Nigel thinking Mandy Moore's choreography was better than the dancers. Mary didn't find it believable, and Mia liked Thayne far more than Comfort.Jessica & Will: The couples first routine was put together by Tyce Diorio, a contemporary number the choreographer believed "says the Garden of Eden" and both dancers seemed to like. Nigel thought the pair had a connection the previous two lacked, Mary called it "one of the most amazing pieces Ive ever seen on the show" and Mia added it was "perfect moving body art". Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin choreographed the couple's second dance, a quickstep ballroom number which seemed to terrify both dancers in rehearsal. Nigel was a fan of the routine but didn't care for the quickstep aspects of the performance. Ballroom expert Mary said it was "very heavy" and was glad the pair had a good first number to fall back on. Mia thought Jessica regressed and believed Will looked tired of having to carry the couple.Courtney & Gev: The couple's first dance was a cha-cha-cha to Rihanna's annoyingly catchy "Don't Stop the Music." Nigel thought it was "brilliant" and "great fun to watch," Mary screeched that "it was magic" and Mia called it "fabulousity at its best." A Jazz routine by Mandy Moore was next for the couple. Nigel called it "cotton candy" (not a compliment), but Mary loved the routine and both dancers. Mia thought the couple "had a great night."Kherington & Twitch: Lil C put together a "super buck" (his words) krump dance with the issue seeming to be whether Kherington will be able to locate said buckness. Nigel thought Kherington did a "damn good job" but thought the couple lost it at the end. Mia thought it was "dirty, and disgusting, and nasty, and ugly, and stank" which, of course, meant she loved it. A tango by Jean-Marc Genereux was the couple's second dance, a number Twitch compared in rehearsal to the Pitt-Jolie fight scene in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." Nigel didn't think the performance was honest, and thought both dancers looked uncomfortable. Mary hated the middle of the routine, particularly the turns, and Mia didn't find either dancer committed.Katee & Joshua: The couple performs a Jean-Marc Genereux waltz during which Joshua is supposed to be a ghost Katee can feel but not see. (Plus Katee tells us there are "mucho lifts.") Joshua was "too bouncy" for Nigel but the judge liked the rest of the dance. Mary questioned the Viennese execution but thought the lifts made up for technical shortcomings. Mia liked Katee, who she feels is "meant to dance," more than Joshua. One of the tougher challenges of the night came with the show's final dance, a Nakul Dev Mahajan-choreographed Bollywood routine neither dancer seemed to get during rehearsal. Nigel talked primarily about the cultural significance of having Indian dance on the show, Mary called the pair "stars tonight" and Mia thought it was a lot of fun.
S4.E15 ∙ Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated
Host Cat Deeley is decked out ominously in black as she welcomes us to the show and tells us the judges will have to eliminate one more guy and one more girl.We open with a modest Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo routine featuring all 12 dancers wearing jackets which turn out to be glow-in-the-dark. Cat explains that three couples with have to dance for their show lives and were introduced to Mia Michaels, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.Results Time, First Four: The first couple up for judgment is Comfort & Thayne, and we're reminded how mediocre the judges' responses had been to them. Katee & Joshua's look back was more positive, especially given that they had been on Mary's "Hot Tamale Train."Comfort and Thayne are the first couple in the bottom three, while Kat and Joshua are congratulated by the host for being safe this week. Mia thinks it was "inevitable" that Comfort and Thayne are there and that the couple isn't hearing what America is telling them. Mia does say she would like them to return for next week.Results Time, Second Four: We remember how well Jessica and Will's first routine was received by the judges, though their second number was a little light on the technique. Both of Chelsie and Mark's routines went over well the previous night.Cat can tell us that one of two pairs is in our bottom three. Chelsie and Mark, it's . . . . not you. So Jessica and Will are going to have to dance later on (ah, duh). Mary's "heart is aching" to see Jessica and Will having to come back later in the show, having loved the couple's first routine and finding Will generally "magnificent." She tells the pair she will "fight for them" if the need arises.Results Time, Third Four: Courtney & Gev's cha-cha-cha had Mary in hysterics, with their second routine almost equally well-received as well. Kherington and Twitch started with a krump, which the judges (especially Mia) loved. Their second dance? Not so much.Kherington and Twitch, "it's you" in the bottom six, Cat tells us less dramatically than this recapper would have liked. Nigel thinks that is evidence nobody is safe, given that Kherington and Twitch have been favorites of the public. It's all about consistency, he says, and adds he thinks they'll probably be safe this week.Guest Dance: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (three shirtless dudes) performs its "Revelations" routine, consisting of a series of individual dances to that cool song from the end of "Thomas Crown Affair."Solos: White-hoodied Comfort is first with an uptempo hip-hop deal, followed by breeze-shooting with Cat on the edge of the stage. Thayne follows with a slower, more technical-looking dance. For some of us, Jessica's cleavage during her spinning routine helps make up for the earlier shirtless dudes. Will is sans shirt (sigh) and fires off a routine over the top of some tribal music, managing to leap off the stage towards the young ladies in the front row.After the break, Kherington does a leaping, prancing ballet thing then tells us that it would "like, mean the whole world" if she were able to stay on. The final soloist is Twitch, who break dances in jeans and tails and gets cut off before fully showing us a Superman-like 'T' logo he had waiting on an undershirt.Verdict: Following Katy Perry singing "I Kissed A Girl," Nigel brings Kherington forward, tells us "she has grown" and that she can sit down. Comfort and Jessica are left, and Nigel tells us he's had his mind changed tonight. He says Comfort "brought it" with her solo, and the judges were disappointed with Jessica's. He adds, though, that Jessica seems to come up with one great routine every week and because of that fact the judges have decided to keep her . . . "this week."After the requisite trip down Comfort Lane, Twitch is brought forward first. Nigel thinks Twitch being in the bottom three "wakes everybody up" but adds we "certainly can't lose him at this stage of the competition." He thinks Will would not be out of place with the Alvin Ailey boys and that therefore we also "certainly" couldn't lose him tonight. Thayne is therefore obviously out, but Nigel tells us that this week was a case where the judges would like to have kept all three boys and canned two of the girls. Are you listening, Jessica?
S4.E16 ∙ The Top 10 Perform
"Finally," host Cat Deeley tells us, we're down the final ten. Cat adds that now America's voting will be the only factor in who advances and who is cut.Before we get going, Jessica comes out and informs Cat that she has broken a few of her ribs and is out of the competition. Left with an odd number of female dancers, the show has decided to bring back the recently booted Comfort for tonight's show.Cat introduces us to tonight's judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Lil' C, adding again that the threesome no longer has to make any cuts, with only the public's vote deciding future eliminations. The couples have been changed at random, with the girls drawing a new guy from a hat. Also, since the public will be voting on its favorite individuals, everybody will be dancing a solo during the show.Courtney & Joshua: Hip hop choreographer Dave Scott puts together a Bride of Frankenstein routine that had Joshua "excited" and Courtney happy she had Joshua as a partner. Lil' C thought Joshua "killed it" and seemed pleasantly surprised with Courtney. Mary thought Joshua stole the show, finding Courtney "just respectable."Solo: Chelsie does a rather uneventful spinning routine to Rihanna's "Pon de Replay." (It doesn't look as if we'll be getting any judge feedback on the solos.)Kherington & Mark: Drawing a country two-step, both seem overwhelmed during rehearsal by the number of steps thrown at them by dance champions Ronnie DeBenedetta and Brandi Tobias. An underwhelmed Lil' C thought it was a "fun routine," Mary basically said the dance was too tough for the dancers and Nigel thought they were both "out of sorts."Solo: Gev gets his breakdance on to Lupe Fiasco. Foot-holding and one-armed handstands follow.Comfort & Twitch: The first task for the phoenix-like Comfort is a Hunter Johnson-designed smooth waltz. Lil' C wasn't blown away, calling it "respectable," while Mary apologized before saying "it lacked power" and was "choppy." Nigel didn't think the performance was strong enough for the Top 10.Solo: Courtney is out on stage next, jumping and spinning around on the floor to "I Want You To Need Me" by Celine Dion.Katee & Will: The pair draws a Broadway number choreographed by Tyce Diorio which has the pair dancing around and in a prop boat. "Explosive" was how Lil' C found it, adding that they (sigh) "rocked his boat." After breaking my television with a giddy scream, Mary said she loved them both. Nigel said "it was terrific" and called them the most technical dancers left on the show.Solo: Mark dances incredibly oddly to "Bohemian Rhapsody" from Queen.Chelsie & Gev: Sonya Tayeh puts together a contemporary routine that had Gev "definitely nervous" in rehearsal, but feeling more prepared. Lil' C thought the pair committed (good thing), Mary "believed it" and Nigel got what he hoped for.Solo: Comfort's second consecutive last week (did I say that?) is half over with some hip hop moves to "Need A Boss" by Shareefa.Solo: Twitch explores the stage rather impressively to Wade Robson's "I Question Mark."Courtney & Joshua: Courtney said the pair "was in shock" when they first saw the sexual rumba Jean-Marc Genereux had choreographed for them. Lil' C "might need his asthma pump" he was so excited, Mary thought they did a "fantastic" job with a genre even professionals struggle with and Nigel trailed off after raving about Joshua.Solo: Katee's spinning and prancing to Maxwell's "This Woman's Work" seems to be relatively well-received by the studio audience.Kherington & Mark: Tyce Diorio says the jazz routine he choreographed is designed to showcasing style and technique. The pair's routine (with Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat," music from 'the' Napoleon Dynamite scene) was "good" for Lil' C and didn't make Mary feel anything. Nigel thought it was like a driving test in that it checked off the elements but was devoid of heart or passion.Solo: Will is dancing to Luther Vandross, starting on his knees off stage before a balletish few seconds across and around the theater.Comfort & Twitch: Dave Scott is back with a futuristic hip hop routine. Twitch thinks that the match-up will be "tremendous," given that they each love to play to the crowd. Both dancers are excited given their familiarity with the style. It was "kind of buck" for Lil' C, comparing Twitch to Scott himself and thinking Comfort was the best she's ever been. Mary loved both, going as far as bowing to Twitch, and Nigel found it "brilliant."Solo: Another uneventful solo with Kherington moving and grooving to Rihanna's "Breakin' Dishes."Katee & Will: Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden choreographed a pas de deux (thanks Google) ballet for the pair, a routine that challenges the elasticity of Katee's legs. Will said in rehearsal that the dance should come with a warning. The couple's performance (danced to the cavity-inducing David Archuleta) was full of "conviction and fervor" for Lil' C. A visibly emotional Mary thought Katee was "flawless." Nigel spends a ton of time complimenting the choreographers, eventually saying the pair was just shy of perfect.Solo:Michael Jackson's "Jam" is Joshua's choice, and a few jaw-dropping hip hop moves make it easily the most visually impressive of the solos.Chelsie & Gev: Our last routine is a jive routine choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux. Gev is "excited" and Chelsie goes on a limb to say they will make it the "best jive routine so far . . . hopefully." Lil' C said Chelsie was the better of the two and Mary thought they did a terrific job, agreeing that Chelsie stole the show. Nigel emphasized that Chelsie "was outstanding" and that Gev was somewhat inconsistent.
S4.E17 ∙ Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated
After a reminder from host Cat Deeley that the fans have chosen who will go home tonight, we're off and running for an elimination Thursday night.The show kicks off with a Bollywood group dance choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan. Cat then tells us three of the show's choreographers, Shane Sparks, Wade Robson and Mandy Moore, have been nominated for Emmy Awards based on their work for the show, along with the show's makeup team. We're losing two dancers tonight and for the first time in the season our judges - this week Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Lil C - will have no input.Following a recap of Wednesday night we get the second of what will be three group dances, the five girls performing a contemporary routine choreographed by Mia Michaels. It is a slow, dark and dramatic number, performed to Celine Dion's version of "Ave Maria."We're now going to learn via Cat the names of the bottom two girls, with both having to perform solos later. First up is Chelsie, who is . . . not the first dancer in that bottom duo. Next is Comfort, brought back because of an injury to Jessica despite being voted off the week before. "Are you one of bottom two girls?" Cat asks. "Yes, you are," comes the answer. Katee, the judge-wowing machine, is the next to face Cat (although this re-capper isn't sure why we're bothering). "You are safe," Cat tells her.That leaves Courtney and Kherington as the final two girls on stage. "After last nights vote, Courtney . . . its not you." (Curse you, Cat. This heart can't take suspense like that.) So that's it: Either Comfort or Kherington will be gone tonight.Our last group dance is just the guys; the fivesome performing a dance put together by what Cat tells us is "a mystery choreographer." The guys are in sneakers, tanks and jogging pants doing a Broadway-ish routine to "Five Guys Named Moe" by Joe Jackson. "Any guesses?" Cat asks us, before revealing that it was our very own English super-producer and judge, Nigel Lythgoe.Joshua is the first of the guys to face Cat's delicious den of drama, hearing that "yes, you are" safe tonight. Will also receives good news, joining Joshua in safety offstage. We could "possibly" be losing Mark tonight, as Cat tells him he is in the bottom two.The result being Gev and Twitch will be battling for our final safe slot. "After last nights vote, the dancer safe is . . . Twitch." So, either Mark or Gev will be going home in a few minutes.Despite not counting for anything, the show is going to give the bottom four dancers a chance to show off their stuff in solo dances. Comfort is half-decent, though she pathetically continues dancing at least four seconds after her song ends. Mark's solo is prancey and all over the place, though I'm probably biased since he was dancing to that atrocious "Black Betty" song. After the break Kherington does nothing of note, though Gev followed with a few strength-based moves that were almost unbelievable in their difficulty.It's finally elimination time and the ladies are first. "The girl who polled the fewest votes . . . and is leaving us tonight . . . is . . . Kherington." A rather surprising result, and the crowd is audibly shocked by announcement. Even Comfort herself can be heard repeatedly saying "What?" into Kherington's ear as the pair hugs.Grab your beta-blockers, Cats about to pregnant pause her way through the guys' elimination announcement: "The guy who polled the fewest votes and is leaving us tonight . . . is . . . Gev."With Gev and Kherington gone, we're down to eight.
S4.E18 ∙ The Top Eight Perform
Just two weeks away from the finale, eight contestants remained on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance?" Four girls and four guys continued in the competition for the title of America's favorite dancer. The dancers picked new partners and routines out of a hat for this round of the competition. Every couple would perform twice and every dancer would perform a solo. Translation: Fox has two hours to fill!Guest judge Toni Basil (of "Mickey" fame) joined regulars Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy. She got a chance to plug her current projects, working with Bette Midler on her Las Vegas show and Tina Turner on her tour.Will & Courtney: Will picked Courtney's name out of a hat and they got hip-hop and samba for their routines. First was the samba, which required Will to loosen his hips a little more than he was used to. Courtney got a well deserved scream from Mary and Toni said she had so much fun watching the routine that she actually forgot she was judging.Before his solo later, Will said he was first inspired to dance by Patrick Swayze in "Dirty Dancing." Courtney said she started dancing when she was 3 and she didn't want to stop by the time her senior year came around. So she didn't. And now she's on the show.For their slow hip-hop routine with Napoleon and Tabitha, the theme was a chance to turn back time and spend someone they love. Nigel said he was effected emotionally by the routine and said that anybody who has lost anybody in their lives would have felt it. Mary said she holds really high expectations and she said, "unfortunately, tonight you didn't meet my expectations." Before a dramatic pause, she reached her trademark shout, saying, "You blew my expectations away!" Toni said that street dancing isn't just "kids' stuff," and said she was glad to see it was happening on the show.Mark & Comfort: Comfort, who shockingly stayed in the competition last week, was the first to perform a solo. She said she got into dancing to hang with her brothers and that she was fortunate to get just a bit of formal training in performing arts school. Mark said he was inspired to dance while growing up in Hawaii after watching "The Phantom of the Opera."Later, Mark pulled Comfort's name from the hat and they drew foxtrot and hip-hop for their dances. The first was hip-hop, choreographed by Tabitha & Napoleon. It included a pretty cool lift into a backward flip that Comfort did over Mar's shoulders. Nigel said Comfort dances better in choreography than in her solos. He said he was more surprised by how good Mark was. Mary told Comfort she hit it and praised Mark, saying he "nailed it." Toni said she loved it and knew how hard Tabitha and Napoleon's work can be because she takes classes with them.For their foxtrot, Mark played a down-on-his-luck guy and Comfort played "Lady Luck," which is appropriate, given the several chances she's had on the show. Nigel said "Lady Luck" walked out of the room on this one. He said they were thinking too hard and lost their chemistry, making it "slightly amateurish." Mary said it was tough and said it included one of the worst close holds she's ever seen. Toni was equally harsh on the couple, but encouraged voters to remember their hip-hop routine, which she loved.Twitch & Katee: Twitch pulled Katee's name out of a hat and they grabbed contemporary and Broadway for their routines. They pair had known each other before doing the show and their contemporary routine by Mia Michaels gave Katee a chance to kick and punch Twitch, which he said was actually kind of hot. Twitch's character in the performance was so suave as the guy trying to get rid of his ex-girlfriend that Cat threatened to punch him in the face. Nigel said the performance was extraordinary. Mary said they were two of the best dancers in the competition. Toni enjoyed that it was seamless between the funk and contemporary styles.Before her solo, Katee said her parents put her in dance because she used to walk around the house only on her toes. Cat said Twitch was a late bloomer when it came to dancing, then he explained that he didn't start dancing until seriously until his senior year in high school and appeared in some dance videos in South Korea.For their Broadway routine, Twitch and Katee did a number from "Sweet Georgia Brown," which Katee sought Twitch's affections to no avail. Nigel said he loved the routine and said he could actually see both dancers doing it on Broadway. He praised Twitch for rising to the occasion every week, despite probably being the least trained dancer in the competition. Mary said it was terrific. Toni said Twitch brought a more organic feel to a Broadway style performance than many highly trained Broadway dancers do. She said she would've liked seeing a more gruff performance from Katee.Joshua & Chelsie: Joshua picked Chelsie's name and they drew Argentine tango and disco. Tango choreographer Dmitry Chaplin wanted the couple to revive the 1920s, when the dance was forbidden was and done only in underground clubs. Nigel said it was probably the most technical of all the routines, so far. He complimented Chelsie on the use of her legs and said the choreography made the most of each dancer's strengths. Mary praised Joshua for embracing the moves and she told Chelsie it was sexier than the one she did earlier in the competition and said they had great chemistry together.Before her solo, Chelsie said she first started dancing in elementary school as a social thing, to get over her shyness and get some friends. Before his solo, Joshua thanked a school teacher who first inspired him to audition for a school musical despite the fact that he danced in school so much that it got him in trouble.Rehearsing for their disco routine, Joshua and Chelsie tried to master a complicated lift that choreographer Dorianna Sanchez said she's been trying to get done for four years. Nigel said it was all remarkable and praised Joshua for pulling off the lifts and gave Chelsie compliments for having the courage to do them. Mary, too, said Chelsie did a great job in landing from the many lifts. Toni said they pulled together the spirit of disco, which was really important.
S4.E19 ∙ Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated
Thursday night's episode of "So You Think You Can Dance?" spelled the end of the road for two more dancers who pulled in the lowest number of votes. The opening dance was a cool, futuristic hip-hop looking deal that was pretty captivating. Guest judge Toni Basil's speech about how she got into dancing, not so much. Host Cat Deeley asked Basil to talk about how much of a challenge it is for the dancers to learn all the different styles they have to know on the show and Basil's response was, essentially, that there are all kinds of dance and you'll never be able to master them.And now, this message...: Judge and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe rode the voting wave by asking everyone who is eligible to vote in the United States -- which he isn't -- to vote in the Presidential election. He said he was asked to make the case for voting by DeclareYourself.org, and encouraged people to register to vote online.To the results: Cat got right down to business, asking Katee to come to the stage. A recap of her performances from Wednesday, which the judges pretty much loved, included Nigel telling Katee, "There isn't one routine that you have done this season that I haven't enjoyed you doing." The verdict? Katee was safe.Cat asked Will to come to the stage and a montage of his performances rolled on the screen. The judges showered him with some more praise, with Nigel saying he was emotionally touched by his and Courtney's slow hip-hop routine. The crowd also went nuts for the James Brown revival Will did as his solo. Cat announced that Will was one of the two guys in the bottom.Comfort, who came back into the competition two weeks ago after being cut because Jessica suffered a season-ending injury, was next to come on stage for results. The judges loved her hip-hop routine with Mark, but absolutely hated the foxtrot. No big surprise here as Comfort landed among the bottom two girls. That left Courtney and Chelsie to wait for word on which of them would also be in the bottom two.Comfort's partner Mark was up next. The judges' remarks and the highlights for him were about the same as Comfort's. But would the result be any different? Yes. Mark was safe, and completely stunned when Cat made the announcement. That left Joshua and Twitch vying for one last safe spot among the guys.Four down, two to go: Cat asked Chelsie to come to the stage next, and the highlight reel reminded viewers that the judges absolutely loved her Argentine tango and disco routines with her partner Joshua. Cat quickly read the result and announced that Chelsie was safe. The crowd cheered and the camera showed a sad Courtney backstage. But there was no immediate word on whether that meant Courtney was actually in the bottom two. More on that later...Cat called for Twitch next, and the video brought to life all the judges' positive comments about how Twitch is the least trained but extremely passionate and how he brings a deeper emotion to his performances because he isn't trying to stick with any kind of technique. Twitch anxiously waited for the result and it wasn't good news. He was in the bottom two and immediately turned toward the back of the stage, dropped into a squat with his back toward the crowd and the cameras until Cat walked over to him, squatted next to him, put her arm around him and talked him through it. Soon, he was smiling again.Joshua, who covered his mouth in what appeared to be both happiness because he was safe and concern because he and Twitch seem to be good friends, came to the stage next. He smiled when Cat told him he knew he was safe.Courtney sat all alone backstage, waiting for the news that she was the second girl in the bottom two. The recap showed her getting massive praise from the judges for her samba with Will and her slow hip-hop routine. It didn't do much to change the result, though, as Cat told her what everyone was waiting to have confirmed: she was in the bottom two girls.From toe tapping to tiptoeing: Artistic directors Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen from Los Angeles Ballet performed to "The Man I Love" from the ballet "Who Cares?" It was pretty stunning. Later, LL Cool J and the Dream stopped by to perform "Baby," from his new album "Exit 13."Flying solo: The bottom four -- Comfort, Will, Courtney and Twitch -- got a chance to do their solos, even though they wouldn't change the results of America's vote. After Will performed, Cat asked Nigel about his thoughts on the dancers in the bottom. Nigel said he thought that Will and Twitch were the two best performers of the week and that maybe voters got lazy, thinking that they'd get votes regardless. Nigel said it would be sad to lose either Will or Twitch.The verdict is in: Cat brought Comfort and Courtney to the stage and read the result. The girl leaving was ... Comfort. She took a look at her "So You Think You Can Dance?" -- again. This time, it's probably for real.Twitch and Will came to center stage to find out that the guy leaving was ... Will.The final six, with just two more cuts remaining before the finale, are: Mark, Joshua and Twitch among the guys, and Katee, Chelsie and Courtney among the girls. Who will go next?
S4.E20 ∙ The Top Six Perform
With just six dancers left, we finally reached the glorious time of the summer when even "So You Think You Can Dance?" couldn't stretch itself to two hours. That meant instead of a bloated 120 minutes, viewers were treated to a packed 60 minutes as each couple performed twice and each individual dancer offered up a solo.Guest judge Adam Shankman joined regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe, and away we went...Courtney & Mark: The Viennese waltz, a not-so-overtly sexual dance, turned into a chance for Mark to grab Courtney's, umm, bosom during rehearsals. She laughed it off like a pro, though. The couple performed to David Cook's winning "American Idol" song, "This Is the Time of My Life." Blatant cross promotion, anyone? As if we wouldn't notice! Adam said the competition was so strong he wasn't sure how America was going to choose among from the top six because they're all so strong. He praised Mark's rise and fall, calling it the best any guy has done all season. Mary said they made their lifts look effortless and they floated across the stage. Nigel called it "romantic" and then admitted the "Idol" cross promo.For their second routine, Courtney and Mark took on a jazz piece that was inspired by French burlesque. It was a smoking hot performance. Adam said he was glad the judges had no decisions to make and shouted his approval. He said he loved each dancer individually, "but together you are unbelievable." Mary called it "crazy, raw, interesting" and said it was "a weird love story." Nigel said he totally agreed and said the dance really suited Mark and said that the pair of them "was absolutely one of the highlights of tonight."Courtney was the last girl of the night to do a solo. She did a contemporary bit to Elisa's "Rock Your Soul." It was highlighted with a final round of spins and Courtney looked a bit sad when she was finished.Mark did the last solo to Robyn's "Bum By You." He offered up more of his trademark bird-walking-style, herky-jerky moves and used his loose-fitting muscle shirt as a prop, much to the crowd's delight.Chelsie & Twitch: Chelsie rocked her solo to the Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up," shaking her hips and spinning like there was no tomorrow.Twitch took his solo a little old school, with Midnight Star's "Midas Touch," and got a little gimmicky when popped some super-shiny gold grillz onto his teeth, along with some gold-framed fake glasses. When he finished, Cat asked to try on the glasses and it wasn't long before she also popped the grillz into her mouth "spit and all." She's a trooper.For their first paired routine was the mambo, which proved a not so easy task. Some of the rehearsal flubs included Chelsie's face getting caught in the crotch of Twitch's pants. Seriously. It was spicy, alright, as Chelsie's quick hips stole the show. Adam noted that Chelsie, dressed in "tomato red," was on fire. He said Twitch was out of his element a little, but that he came through well enough. Mary talked about the difficulty for picking up the mambo's complicated counts. She praised Chelsie a little more and said she was very proud of Twitch for taking on the challenge. Nigel said Chelsie absolutely sparkled, but Twitch slipped up a bit and gave away his mistakes with his facial expressions, which were highlighted in slow motion for he viewers at home.For the final dance of the night, Chelsie and Twitch performed a hip-hop routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo that had them playing conductors who were dueling over a baton. Adam was in awe of the choreography and the dancers. Mary said that Twitch, in his element (and most of his other routines), has been stellar. Mary said Chelsie, who wasn't expected to do well in this style, kept up with Twitch the whole way. Nigel said any one of the six could be in the top four and whoever isn't in the finale shouldn't feel bad because the competition has been so evenly matched.Katee & Joshua: After spending much of the first part of the competition together, Katee and Joshua were reunited for a contemporary routine choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. It was pretty dramatic, with tosses and lifts and seductive movements. Adam was really moved by the performance and said it was the best thing DiOrio had done all season. He called DiOrio, Katee and Joshua the "Holy trinity of 'So You Think You Can Dance?'" Mary agreed it was the most beautiful thing she'd seen all season, as well, and said she could see both dancers going into the finale. Nigel again was flabbergasted that Joshua has no formal training and continued to deliver such quality performances.Katee picked up the pace a bit, dancing her contemporary solo to Maroon 5's "Cant' Stop," which seemed a little faster than her moves were.Joshua took a crack at his solo, combining his popping with his hip-hop and some huge leaps to Memphis Bleek's "Like That."For their final couple routine, Katee and Joshua took on the paso doble. Joshua went with the raw, shirtless look while Katee donned a strappy number up top with a draping floral print. It was another dramatic dance that ended with Joshua dragging Katee by one arm across the floor and over to the judges' table. Adam said Joshua shouldn't be able, given his lack of technical training, to do what he did. Mary followed by saying that "true magic" happens with Katee and Joshua get together, then she screamed -- long and loud and right into Nigel's left ear. Nigel said that if Joshua keeps dancing the way he did this night, he would absolutely steal the show.
S4.E21 ∙ Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated
Just six contestants remained, but that number on Thursday would be trimmed to the final four dancers still in the running for the title of America's favorite dancer on "So You Think You Can Dance?"Guest judge Adam Shankman announced that in addition to the $100,000 cash prize and the spot in a Las Vegas show, the winning dancer will also get a featured role in an upcoming movie he's producing. No details. That's just the prize. So, you know, yay!After the first commercial break, judge Nigel Lythgoe went all "Debbie Downer" on the dancers, telling them that they'll have to prepare themselves for rejection. In a minute-long speech, he said the word rejection -- or some form of it -- seven times, telling them dancers that by the end of the show, five of them will have been rejected. He said they should not dwell on it, but use it to propel themselves toward other opportunities. He then told them that each of them pulled in more than 1 million votes after Wednesday's performance show.Mary got emotional while telling them how proud she is of the progress they've made, and Adam told them to cherish the experience they've had on the show and to treat their fans well. All six dancers then performed their solos, and it would be the last time around the stage for two of them.Child's play: The first guest performer was a six-year-old breakdancer named "Lil Demon," who backspun and handstood all over the stage and put smiles on everyone's faces. Later, Lady Gaga went all techno on us and performed "Just Dance."No more kidding around: After the break, host Cat Deeley was afraid it was time to get down to business and start reading the results. With the three girls on stage, Cat first addressed Courtney and we got clips of her performance from Wednesday. We were next walked through Katee's performances, then Chelsie's. Cat let Katee off the hook, announcing that she was safe even though that didn't necessarily mean she pulled the most votes.The guys were up next, with a long, drawn-out batch of highlight reels showing us Mark, Joshua and Twitch's performances before announce the first safe guy: Joshua.Back to the girls, Cat was ready to announce which would move on to the finale and which would go home. The one moving on was ... Courtney. Chelsie took it like a pro, smiling and cheerfully watching her highlight reel roll. She cried later and said she was "really, really grateful" for the opportunity.To the guys, it was down to Mark and Twitch for the final spot in the finale. And it went to ... Twitch. Mark embraced Twitch and lifted him up and said it had just been an amazing experience.The big finish: Next week, it comes down to Twitch, Joshua, Katee and Courtney for the title, the $100,000, and the show on the Vegas strip ... oh, and that "featured" dance role in Adam Shankman's non-specific next movie.
S4.E22 ∙ The Top Four Perform
It was the first part of the two-night finale on "So You Think You Can Dance?" and host Cat Deeley threw a curve ball at us from the start. In an effort to change things up -- and perhaps to stretch another episode into two hours! -- each of the remaining dancers would perform with every other dancer. That meant the two girls would dance with each other, as would the two guys. Suddenly, those rumors of Lance Bass pairing up with another dude on "Dancing with the Stars" don't seem so special, huh?During the introduction, there was no immediately mention of the reports that Twitch and Joshua were rushed to the hospital earlier in the week after suffering from dehydration during rehearsals. Guest judge Mandy Moore joined regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe and Cat got the action started quickly, introducing the first dance from Courtney and Twitch.Courtney & Twitch: Courtney and Twitch were given a hip hop routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo. The routine was about a crazed girlfriend tracking down her man at the club, complete with punches, slaps and kicks. Mandy praised both dancers and said it was a great way to start the show. Mary gave her patented scream, which is ostensibly a good thing.Cat chat with Courtney: Cat had a one-on-one chat with each dancer, and Courtney was up first. Courtney said "I know I'm not the best dancer," but said she didn't think you had to be the best dancer to do well in the competition. Cat asked her about her intense chemistry with Gev earlier in the season, and the fact that she has a boyfriend. Courtney said her boyfriend was nothing but supportive and that she didn't have to be in love with Gev to have great dancing chemistry with him.Then Courtney danced her final solo of the season and got judges' comments. Mandy said she was getting teary-eyed watching her. She said Courtney should keep training and defining her lines. Mary said Courtney's grown throughout the season and that she's an inspiration, and that made Courtney cry. Nigel said he was delighted Courtney was in the top four and that nobody would have thought she'd make it that far.Katee & Joshua: Choreographer Wade Robson said it was nice to bookend the show after having done the first top 20 performance. He said the inspiration for their dance was "love is hard work, but it's the best thing you'll ever work for." Joshua said he and Katee have great chemistry on and off stage, and Katee called him "my boo."Mandy said it was a beautiful routine and said that technically it could have used a little work, but that it was great. Mary agreed that it was "absolutely beautiful." She called it an amazing routine and said she was happy that the characters in the dance stayed together in the end. Nigel said the couple has shown great growth and that Joshua, especially, is "not a normal dancer," but that he is "a brilliant dancer." And the pair of them are "two of the best dancer we've ever had on this show."Girls, Girls, Girls: Tyce DiOrio choreographed a Broadway routine for Katee and Courtney to dance together. Mandy said she loved seeing the pair dance together, and Mary agreed. She said they looked effortless leaping across the stage. Nigel said they both danced beautifully and told Courtney there was a bit she could learn from Katee about finishing each move.Cat chat with Twitch: Twitch explained that he got his nickname because his enjoyed dancing so much, but had to try to cover it up. That meant he would make just little movements and people would call him "Twitch." Twitch said he was hoping to get paired with Kherington early in the competition and said he was surprised when she was eliminated a few weeks ago.Twitch then danced his solo. Mandy said she saw early on that there was something special about Twitch and said it's been great to watch that continue throughout the season. Mary was speechless with Twitch's freestyle. Nigel said Twitch has made his mark on the show and that he was actually happy when Twitch slipped into the bottom three because it gave him a chance to watch him do a solo.Boys will be boys: Twitch and Joshua got a chance to dance together, and to settle a feud that's gone on all season. Russian choreographer Youri Nelzine put together a trepak routine that would settle the manliness battle, once and for all. The crowd was floored, the judges loved it and Nigel said it would be a routine that is spoken about for many years to come.Cat chat with Katee: Katee was reminded of her moment early in the audition process, when she said she probably wouldn't come back for another season if she didn't make it into the final this time. Cat said she felt Katee's honesty coming through at that point and didn't begrudge her anything. Katee did her solo and stood with Cat as the judges heaped praised upon her.Twitch & Katee: Once Twitch was able to pry Katee away from Joshua, they practiced the fox trot, a romantic dance that challenge their ability to take each other's "romantic face" too seriously. Twitch got admiration for his gentlemanly display, with Nigel even asking him to say, "The name's Bond ... James Bond," with a faux-British accent.Cat chat with Joshua: Joshua said he had a lot of struggles growing up, and that whenever he did get chances to take dance classes, he cleaned up around the studio as an alternative to payment. Cat then made fun of Joshua for crying all the time, and he couldn't do or say anything to defend himself.Joshua did his solo, which ended with him dancing on the judges' platform. The judges piled on the praise for Joshua, with Nigel saying that he's set a new standard for untrained dancers on the show.Courtney & Joshua: To end the pairs' routines, Courtney and Joshua prepared for the fast-paced jive. Cat talked about the kind of energy that the dance and all the dances throughout the week and Mary agreed. Mary said she loved the dance, but Nigel took a surprising turn when he said there were several parts of it that disappointed him.The fab four: The myth, the legend, the queen of the dance floor, Mia Michaels choreographed the dance that the final four would perform together to close the show. The four dancers, exhausted, slumped over as they heard the judges' remarks. Mandy said she felt like she'd seen something magical.Nigel "named names" while expressing his praise and gratitude about Twitch and Joshua, two untrained dancers, getting to the final. He said people were shocked when Will and Mark were voted off, but, he said, "I think America got it right." He said the pair deserved to be there. He called Katee and Courtney "shining beacons."
S4.E23 ∙ Results Show: Winner Announced
Today is the Results Show: Winner Announced.
S5.E1 ∙ Auditions: Brooklyn and Denver
The two-hour premiere of the fifth season of "So You Think You Can Dance?" promised you'd laugh, cry and worry about the health of a guy who threw himself off the front of the audition stage. So, you think you can handle it?Start spreading the news...: The first set of auditions took place in Brooklyn, where judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy were joined by hip hop choreographers, Tabitha and Napoleon. Host Cat Deeley explained that the best dancers would get a ticket to the next round in Las Vegas, borderline dancers would get a chance in the group choreography, and the rest would go home. Gabi Rojas, who was born into the circus, suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and gave her heart and soul into her audition. The rest of the dancers in the crowd rose to their feet after her stirring modern dance before Nigel said, "If you are not in this year's Top 20, I'll be surprised." He called it one of the best auditions he's seen in five years. Eight minutes into the season, Gabi's dance gave Mary her first chance to deliver a high-pitched scream. Gabi was through to Vegas.Saalim "Storyboard" Muslim and his partner Habby "Hobgoblin" Jacques cast their vote for change on the show with a display of "Mutation," a contortionism routine that Nigel said would be a good fit for "Dawn of the Dead: The Musical." The judges were concerned their style wouldn't work for the show, but gave them a chance to join the group choreography at the end of the day. Peter Sabasino, an Italian family guy from Philadelphia, showed an impressive demonstration of tap dancing that had Mary giggling the whole way through. He promised he could do tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary and some ballroom. Peter's headed to Vegas.Tiffany Geigel, who suffered from a spinal condition that left her with just three vertebrae at birth, gave a nice performance and Nigel admitted from the start that it would be difficult to judge her without acknowledging her condition. He said people who think they can't do this or that should look at Tiffany and be inspired. Then, he decided she wasn't right for the competition. Tiffany later said she didn't truly expect to advance, but wanted to prove a point that obstacles can be overcome. She succeeded.Maksim Kapitannikov showed some ballroom prowess, using a former "Dance" contestant Faina Savich as his partner on a cha cha cha. Nigel liked Maksim's lack of grimaces and false moves with his face, "apart from a couple of winks I could've done without." It's worth noting that each of the past three seasons of "So You Think You Can Dance?" has delivered a pro on "Dancing with the Stars" (Dmitry Chaplin, Lacey Schwimmer and Chelsie Hightower). Maksim would be back for the group choreography.Nobuya Nagahama of Tokyo became one of the early personalities of the season and served up some fast-paced locking and would return at the end of the day, with Maksim and 45 other dancers. Lauren Gottleib of Season 3 choreographed the group routine, which put Maksim though to Vegas. Nobuya would be making the trip, as well. In all, 27 dancers from New York were heading to Sin City.Brooklyn, Day 2: Two years after making it to Vegas, Arielle Taylor was ready to give the show another run. Nigel remembered liking her before, and was complimentary throughout her contemporary routine. The judges hoped she learned from her previous experience, and she was going to get a second chance. Thomas Martin and Amanda Clark brought a bolero dance routine to the stage that mostly served to make the judges chuckle. Mary called it basic, beginning, bronze-level dancing. That kicked off a mini-montage of mayhem. Nina Estrina and Igor Zabrodin showcased a cha cha that ended with a super-secret trick -- Nina crouched down low and spun no less than a dozen times at high speed. "You could put wet clothes on her and spin them dry," Nigel said. They were asked back to the choreography.Kellen Stancil gave an interesting contemporary dance using an umbrella as a prop. Mary asked him what the umbrella represented to him, which brought Kellen to tears in memory of his deceased aunt. He said with the umbrella, he felt comfortable and safe, as he did with his aunt. Napoleon said, "You moved me" as Kellen continued to well up. Nigel simply presented Kellen with a ticket to Vegas.Chimezie Nwosu brought a bit of Twitch flavor to the New York auditions, but without the glasses and gold caps. Nigel liked it but said it wasn't enough to get him through, leaving Chimezie to try to prove himself in the group choreography. Igor made it to Vegas, but his spinning partner Nina did not. Chimezie, too, received a ticket to the desert. In total, 14 dancers from Brooklyn's second day were heading to the next round.Mile-High Madness: It was on to Denver to see what talent could be found in the Mile-High City. Choreographer Sonja Tayeh, a newcomer to the show last season, joined Nigel and Mary in Denver. Kayla Radomski, 18, grew up without her dad around and grew up living with her mom in her grandparents' house so they could afford to send her to dance classes. Nigel said Kayla "brought it" and there wasn't much he didn't like -- he couldn't think of anything. Kayla was on to Vegas and her grandma screamed Mary-style, while her grandfather was moved to tears. Sonja fell in love with Denver's dancers during a montage that showed her reacting to various female contemporary dancers.Misha Belfer and Mitchel Kibel -- both guys -- offered a same-sex samba. Everything was moving along smoothly until a spin in which Mitchel was lifting Misha ended with them falling over each other. Nigel said they might alienate a lot of the "Dance" audience and said he didn't think he liked it. But if he was judging them on their dancing, rather than just them dancing together, he might have thought it was alright. They were both asked back for the choreography, along with 22 other dancers.Mitchel didn't make it, and neither did Misha. Eleven dancers, though, scored their tickets to Vegas.Denver, Day 2: Allison Moist kicked off the second day with a bizarre routine to the "Star Wars" theme, complete with light sabers. She was also dressed as a lion, which she admitted had nothing to do with the dance. She started a montage highlighting some of Denver's more "interesting" characters.Nigel was "shocked at the stupidity" of the auditions after a while. Elias Holloway, 18, brought his 16-year-old brother along for a locking and popping routine. His younger brother wasn't auditioning because he was too young. Nigel found it very entertaining, and Mary said it was "about the cutest thing" she's seen in five years. Elias would get a chance to prove himself with the choreography.Brandon Bryant and Natalie Reid met during last season's auditions and they were each the last of the dancers who didn't make it through to the finals. Brendan lost out to Gev and Natalie was the friend of Katee Shean, the dancer who famously said she wouldn't try to audition again if she didn't make it through. Katee did make it through and finished in third place overall. After watching Natalie dance, Sonja was moved and said she was "dying" while watching Natalie. She said she got chills and didn't want Natalie's dance to end. Mary said she was "just so proud" of Natalie for the organic nature of her dance. She said Natalie was "going to go the distance this time." Nigel called it superb. Without even attempting to fake her out, Nigel handed Natalie a ticket to Vegas.Brandon offered up a remarkable contemporary dance that brought Mary to tears. "I have to say that I have the greatest job in the whole world, to be able to sit there some days and witness something like that," she said, "something that I could never do in a million years, is dance like you."Back to the choreography, where Elias and 16 others got another chance to impress the judges. They decided Elias needed more training and encouraged him to come back next season. He said he would. Eight dancers from Denver's second day made it to Vegas, bringing the city's total to 19.
S5.E2 ∙ Auditions: Miami and Memphis
For the first time in four years, "So You Think You Can Dance?" returned to the spicy city of Miami to see what the dancers there had to offer. It was another two-hour audition night, so it was time to settle in with Will Smith's requisite "Welcome to Miami."Choreographer Tyce DiOrio joined regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary MurphyTony Riendeau got the night started with what he called "The Tony Style," promising a rubber band-like, kinky dance routine. We should've known we were in trouble when he started dancing to Kenny Loggins' "Footloose." The performance ended with a cartwheel gone awry, and there wasn't much for the judges to say after that. Tony, who'd promised he could dance all night, nearly lost consciousness. He was fine later.Priscilla Marrero of Miami showed off some precision contemporary dancing. She got a little self-righteous when she introduced herself to the judges by saying, "I'm Priscilla, I'm a dancer. That's who I am." The judges all fawned over her and she was easily through to Las Vegas.Janette Manara and her salsa partner Romulo Villaverde made a return to the auditions after Janette made it to Vegas last season without Romulo, but ended up getting cut before the finals. This time, they dazzled the judges with a routine full of flips and leg kicks and both earned tickets to the next round.A pair of twins stopped by with a joint routine that was anything but synchronized, starting a montage of bad dancers that were ripped apart by Tyce.Joseph Smith, a hip-hop dancer who clearly saw a future that included T-shirts with his image and the phrase, "Sha-wham!" emblazoned on them, impressed Mary and Nigel, but Tyce wasn't overly fond of him. Still, Joseph was invited back for choreography at the end of the day and made it through to Vegas, along with 27 other Miami dancers.Miami, Day 2: Wislande Letang made the odd wardrobe choice of wearing a cut-off shirt so high that it strategically exposed her bikini beneath. It had a bit of a stripper vibe to it, leading to a confrontation with Tyce, when he noted that her move in which she spread her legs to expose her crotch was unacceptable.Erik "Silky" Moore, 19, was on a mission to bring tap back, and his audition was an impressive start. Working to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Erik thrilled the judges, tossing in a bit of break dancing toward the end. Mary didn't want it to end and said it was "one of the best dances I've seen all season." Erik will be tapping all the way to Las Vegas.Paris Torres, a former Miss Washington from Seattle, felt like she had a lot to offer as a dancer. Nigel called it "fabulous." Mary loved it, too, and said Paris had "everything that we're looking for." Nigel had to break a tie when Tyce asked to see Paris in choreography and Mary said she should go to Vegas where she would do great. Nigel handed Paris a ticket.A montage of some of the day's better dancers followed, with three of them heading directly to the next round. Afterward, a headdress-wearing African dancer named Geo Smith showed some impressive moves and frightened Mary a bit when he leaped off the stage toward the judges' table, making her think he was going to crawl under it. "She you were going to tickle her fancy with your feathers," Nigel said. They asked him to return for choreography.As the end of the Miami auditions drew near, Talia Rickards, a widow whose husband died in a motorcycle accident in May 2006. This was her first audition in more than two years. Nigel didn't see quite enough from her routine, but Mary said it was "definitely very fiery." Tyce wasn't sure there was enough substance to put her through to choreography, but Mary and Nigel asked her to come back.Geo and Talia were among the dancers who returned at the end of the night for choreography. Geo made it through. And Talia was right behind him.Headed for Memphis: Crump choreographer Lil C joined Nigel and Mary the judging panel and 24-year-old Memphis police Officer Marico Flake sought to introduce the panel to a style he called Memphis jukin', a blend of Elvis' bounce and graceful footwork. The judges messed with Marico for a moment, saying it was "a no to choreography." He didn't have to do choreography because he was going straight to Vegas.A self-proclaimed second cousin of Howie D from the Backstreet Boys, Dustin Dorough, offered up a clunky hip-hop routine. He said it was based on his martial arts, but it didn't work out.Chris Carrozza promised a virtual smorgasbord of dance styles, offering up a fusion style that he said included virtually every cultural dance he's ever seen. Chris started walking away before all the judges were done speaking and Nigel said he was "being rude."Caitlin Kinney, the older sister of 18-year-old Megan Kinney, who got a ticket to Vegas during the Miami audition, tried her own hand at the competition and said it would be a dream to go with her sister. Caitlin had only been dancing for five years and Nigel said she was "superb." Caitlin had also undergone hip reconstruction and Mary said dancing was Caitlin's "destiny." She was headed to Sin City.Memphis, Day 2: Anna Dunn, whose father killed himself in February 2008, tried to channel her pain into her performance. Nigel said Anna's head was moving around too much. Mary agreed, but called Anna a "diamond in the rough." Lil C told her he could empathize with Anna because his father, too, took his own life. The judges put her through to choreography.Travis Prokop, whose father is the head football coach at the high school he attended, was thankful for his dad's relentless support of his choice to be a dancer. Nigel suggested Travis work on filling out his large frame with strength. The judges all agreed. Travis would return for the choreography.Evan Kasprzak, who auditioned last year and made it to the end of Vegas, auditioned with a classic jazz routine. Nigel appreciated the completeness of the routine. The judges wondered whether Evan could handle other types of dance, but they put him directly through to Vegas, nonetheless.Twin sisters Lauren and Lydia Guerra talked about how close they were and how thankful they were to be auditioning together. The judges enjoyed it, but noted that the dancers were different in their performances, even though they were doing the same choreographed routine.Ryan Kasprzak, Evan's older brother, was the final solo performer of the day, presented what he called "a capella tap with Whoopie Cushion accompaniment." The judges found it clever and fun, and noted that despite the joking aspect, Ryan was a qualified dancer. Nigel wanted Ryan to come back for choreography, but Mary and Lil Co opted to send him directly to Vegas.When the time for choreography came, The Guerra twins, Travis Prokop and Anna Dunn were left to fight for their chances to continue on in the competition. Lauren Guerra was the first to learn her fate, and she made it to Vegas. Up next was Anna Dunn, who also advanced to the next round. Travis received a ticket to Vegas, as well.Finally, Lydia Guerra went to center stage. Nigel said it was terrible to split a family up. "I know you're going to be really supportive of your sister," he said, before the camera cut to the doors of the theater, where Lydia burst through holding a ticket.
S5.E3 ∙ Auditions: L.A. and Seattle
The final audition week for "So You Think You Can Dance" began in Los Angeles. Host Cat Deeley acted like an idiot outside the theater and we were ready to go.Along with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, choreographer Adam Shankman helped with the judging in L.A.We began with Bianca Revels, who just missed out on the top-20 for Season 4. Her mother was in from Detroit to watch her dance which brought tears of joy from Revels. Revels, 20, tap-dances sans music and the judges swooned. All three give her a standing ovation and Revels was straight through to Vegas.Next up was the creepy hand-holding sister and brother team of Brynelle and Xavier Blanton. They moved around the stage in a disorganized manner. Mary didn't think either had enough dance base. Adam criticized Brynelle's form and Nigel called her "child-like." A big fat 'no' for both.29-year-old Debra Lawson is, um, quite a bit larger than most dancers on shows like this. More importantly for these purposes, she seemed to have little discernable talent or technique. She then talked about potential issues with her Orthodox Judaism. None of it mattered as she was sent home.Suzanne Fernandez does something she called a "fairy medicine dance." Nigel asked "what are you on?" John Fleming's mime face paint had Mary laughing hysterically. 23-year-old Michael Han fires off a flamboyant and talentless routine. All three are told 'no.'Swing dancer Calico Sequeira, 30, gave a mediocre showing with a partner. Nigel dismissed her as "on a social level." They told her 'no,' though Adam went up on stage and danced with her briefly. This prompted Adam to pretend he was a contestant as several Season 4 contestants (including winner Joshua) gave him feedback from the judges' table.Asuka Kondoh (who made it to Vegas last year) and partner Ricky Sun did a international Latin ballroom number. Everyone is blown away by Kondoh's moves. Nigel liked them both, and called Kondoh "stunning" after horrifically butchering her first name. Both are sent straight through to Vegas.This led into a montage of three unnamed dancers who were put through to Vegas.Our final audition of the day is Nathan Trasoras, who almost stopped dancing a few years back because kids were making fun of him. The judges absolutely loved his contemporary ballet moves: "That was pretty damn extraordinary," Adam said. Unfortunately, at 17-years-old Trasoras was too young for Season 5. Simon decided to put him straight through to Vegas for Season 6.L.A., Day 2: We started with Sammy Ramirez, a 19-year-old former wrestler. His break-dance routine is appreciated by all three judges. Adam thought he "had some of the best stops I've ever seen." Due to concerns about his versatility he is put through to the choreography round.Farm-born Stacey House and her leg warmers came out and performed a less-than-impressive break routine. Mary said it was too "all kinda crazy" for her and House is sent back to her house.We were shown the back-story of 20-year-old Californian Amanda Kerby, Her father has had multiple sclerosis (which I spelled correctly on the first try) for the last 13 years and the disease has inspired her dancing. All three judges pointed to her looks before her dancing, but Mary called her "extremely talented." After Adam curiously asked how her father's illness "makes you feel," they put her right through to Vegas.Simon spots Phillip Chbeeb on the stage. Recognizing him as a strong b-boy from last year who came down with pneumonia just before Vegas Week, Nigel puts him immediately through to Vegas without an audition.Chbeeb ends up dancing with Arielle Coker, one of his classmates. Coker told Deeley that her family was recently in a major car accident that landed her mother in the ICU. Nigel thought the whole routine was "beautiful." Adam said Coker made Phillip a better dancer and they put her through to Vegas.The threesome of Alexie Agdeppa ("beauty, grace"), Diana Vaden ("great potential") and Chanel Smith ("I love her, she's crazy") are all put into the choreography round.Our obligatory horrendous guy in L.A. is named Kevin Cormier. He told Deeley his nickname is "Shakiro" due to his having similar moves to the pop star Shakira. (Get it?) Not surprisingly, Cormier is awful. Mary thought he was "not dancing, just shaking."Finally for L.A. is the choreography round. Ramirez, Vaden and Agdeppa are all sent to Vegas while Smith is sent home.The final audition city is Seattle. Choreographer Mia Michaels will sit in on the panel with Mary and Nigel.Seattle, Day 1: Christopher Keller, 22, and his partner did a combo of tango and East Coast swing. None of the judges liked their routine, which played with the gender roles of dancing. 'No.'The pierced and tattooed Nick "Nasty" Salzman performed an up-temp break-dance routine. Salzman got tired and stopped mid-routine, then was verbally contentious with Nigel. Mary and Mia cited his personality as changing them from a 'yes' to a 'no.'6-foot-6 b-boy Dmitrious Bistrevsky did some halfspeed breaking that had the judges laughing in a bad way. Mary said it was obvious you "really didn't know what you're doing." There was nothing there for me, said Nigel, and he was gone.We next saw a montage of some of Seattle's worst performances, including one girl falling violently on her shoulder. "It really pisses us off," Mary said about one of them.18-year-old Kelsea Taylor pranced around the stage in a creative manner that was well-received by all three judges. Nigel said that choreographer Sonya Tayeh (guest judge in Denver) would love her. Mary thought she was "really fun" and "smart." Mia thought she was a "beautiful disastrous weirdo." Taylor went through to the choreography round.We immediately see Taylor in the choreography round. She is put through to Vegas along with three other dancers.Seattle, Day 2: Nigel begins by lecturing the dancers that they need to be better.Unpronounceably-named Hawaiian Kuponohiipoi Aweau twirled around a chair dramatically for several moments. Mary was on the fence but Mia had faith in him. Nigel though he was quirky so they put him through to the choreography.Next was a montage of stronger performances, with three dancers sent on to choreography.Ukrainian computer repairman Leonid Knyshov bounced around somewhat aimlessly. Afterward Mary said he reminded her of a 3-year-old twirling in the backyard. This prompted the judges to bring up annual SYTYCD sideshow David "Sex" Soller for a dance battle. After getting approval from his mother, the 35-year-old Soller went to the stage for what amounted to a giant waste of everyone's time. Nigel decides to put Soller through to the choreography round in an attempt to teach him a lesson and stop him from coming on the show. (Sigh.)Not surprisingly, Soller cant come to close to keeping up with the choreography and it sent home. Aweau and eight others are sent through to the Vegas.Next week more than 170 dancers will be back for the first show in Las Vegas, with only 20 going through to the finals. See you then!
S5.E4 ∙ Vegas Callbacks
After auditions in six cities, the "best of the best" made it to Las Vegas for the next round of the competition to determine the Top 20 dancers in America on "So You Think You Can Dance?"There were 172 dancers at the start of the night, but host Cat Deeley promised the challenges would get tougher and the judges would be harsher in their quest to find their finalists for Season 5.They pulled out all the stops even at the judges' table, where Mia Michaels, Lil C, Adam Shankman and Debbie Allen all joined regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy.Each dancer would perform a solo to start the Vegas round, and Alex Wong from the Miami auditions went first, offering a contemporary style with a bit of a martial arts twist at times. Mia looked on adoringly and gave a notable "Wow" as she watched. The judges would give no comments after the solos.Tony Bellissimo made his mark, bringing along various portraits of Nigel during a gimmick-heavy dance in which he dressed as a businessman heading to work. He had Nigel's photo in his newspaper, in his briefcase and in his coat.A quick montage rounded up some of the more acrobatic moves of the solo round before Nigel called all the dancers to the stage and told them they weren't as good as the judges thought they were in the first auditions. He said some of them would be going home immediately and began calling them to the front of the stage. If any of the six judges wanted to keep a dancer, they could stay. But a unanimous no meant their journey was over.In total, 45 dancers were sent home after the solos, including a couple of early favorites: the football coach's son Travis Prokop, widow Thalia Rickards, and hip-hopper Chimezie Nwosu.Napoleon & Tabitha D'Umo were on hand to choreograph a hop hop routine for the remaining the dancers. Contemporary dancer Gabi Rojas was worried the choreography was too fast for her. She was a favorite of Nigel's early on. She definitely struggled and lost her place in the routine.Mia made an ominous statement, saying, "I love cutting. Because I like to see people that aren't good at what they do go home."Gabi stepped up and was saved only because of her "unique" solo, according to Nigel. "You have to be good at more things than just what you do," he added.By the end of the hip hop routine, 37 more dancers were leaving Las Vegas. Only 96 dancers remained.Day 2: First up the morning of Day 2 was a waltz choreographed by Jean Marc Genereaux and France Mousseau.Popper Phillip Chbeeb and his partner from the L.A. audition, Arielle Coker, were split up for the waltz, and for the rest of the competition. Phillip made it through but Arielle did not.Popper Nobuya Nagahama was having the time of his life in Vegas, but was going to be out of his element with the waltz. The judges were very impressed with him. Afterward, he cried as he talked about taking dance classes between the first and second audition, and he gave credit to his teachers for his success. "It's all to them," he said. "I couldn't make it by myself."Choreographer Sonja Tayeh put together a jazzy routine for the remaining dancers, which Natalie Reid and Brandon Bryant nailed in rehearsal. Sonja even pulled them out to show the rest of the group how to do it. But when it came time to do the routine for the judges, Natalie was off. Mary told her the judges couldn't continue to pull for her, and they sent her home. She was crushed, but smiled the whole time. The other dancers noted that if Natalie could go home, anyone could go.Brandon went up with the next group and Lil C and Mia both told him they were disappointed after all the hype they'd heard about him. Nigel stood up for him and said he was probably one of the best dancers they've ever had in the competition. He was safe.The jazz group was on a roll, but Gabi Rojas was still shaky when it came time for her to perform. Lil C just repeated, "She's bad," while Mia responded, "How can she be so bad?" Nigel even gave up, muttering, "Damn, my favorite unique dancer is not good." Debbie spoke for the group and said, "Gabi, you're breaking my heart," and called her "a disappointment." Gabi was asked to dance for her life and if three judges gave her a nod, she could stay. As she danced her own solo, the judges asked each other, "Now, where was that?" They all gave her their approval, but they warned her that she had to do that well on other styles.The remaining 73 contestants might have thought they were headed to bed at 8 p.m., but Cat said, "They were in for a shock." She broke them into groups and the groups had to randomly select a CD, choreograph a routine and perform it first thing the next morning.Day 3: On little or no sleep, the dancers returned to the theater at 7 a.m. beaming with confidence. Nigel warned them that even though the group round can be fun and light, there could be cuts if dancers weren't up to snuff.Tapper Erik "Silky" Moore was worried about his group. It was a jive tune that resulted in a "horrific" dance, according to Nigel. Debbie said there was "just a lack of rhythm." The group was a mess and three of the five were cut immediately, but Erik was asked to return later and dance for his life.Brandon Bryant came back with his group and even though the routine wasn't great, Adam noted that at least they looked like they were "fighting for something."Jokester and dancer Ryan Kasprzak and his group choreographed a routine that made Adam cry. He said it made him miss dancing. "I'm starting to see a season about to happen," Adam said. The whole group made it through.Erik was back to tap dance for his life. He did a smooth bit that ended with a dramatic backflip onto his chest and stomach. Mia, Nigel and Debbie voted against keeping him around. Lil C was the next to vote, and he said, "You don't have my vote."At the end of a tiring day, the dancers were faced with a contemporary routine choreographed by Mia Michaels. Tony Bellissimo was nervous after having breezed through the earlier rounds. Mary told him his dancing was "not good enough," and invited him to dance for his life by repeating the choreography -- an odd move.A brief montage included Nobuya Nagahama going home -- but he vowed to return "next year." (Someone should tell him the show is returning in the fall).The Kinney sisters, Megan and Caitlin, were split into separate groups. Megan got through, but said she couldn't relax until she knew what was going to happen with Caitlin, who was lacking confidence. Caitlin missed some steps and Mary quietly said she was "so disappointed" in her. Caitlin didn't get enough votes, but was asked to dance for her life immediately. Well, after a commercial break.Caitlin appeared to be "falling apart," as Mary said, before starting her solo. But Caitlin pulled it together for what Debbie called a "beautiful" dance. Nigel said it was "old-fashioned," but he gave her a positive vote. Debbie agreed. Mia voted against Caitlin, as did Lil C and Adam. It was down to Mary, who voted for Caitlin, who she called a "fighter" with potential.Another pair of siblings, the Kasprzak brothers, were hoping to stick together, as well. Ryan was the first to do Mia's routine. Mary said he "nailed it," and told him he was still in it. Next up was his younger brother Evan. Mia made him do flea hops all the way around and off the stage -- he was safe. Evan flea-hopped all the way into his brother's arms and they hugged.Tony Bellissimo was back with the final group to try the choreography again. After a second chance, Tony made it through to the next round. He cried immediately on stage and they all were about to be moved to tears by his reaction.Day 4: The remaining 54 dancers were faced with Broadway in Vegas as Tyce D'Orio arrived to choreograph a girls' routine and a guys' routine.The girls danced first while the guys played around at the pool. Bianca Revels impressed Nigel with her newfound long legs. But she wasn't through just yet. The judges wouldn't make any decisions until all the girls had danced. Nigel eventually called up a group of girls, which included Bianca, and told them their road had ended. Bianca later said she would not return for another season.In another harsh round of cuts, Megan Kinney, Gabi Rojas and Priscilla Marrero were among those going home.Nigel called the remaining girls to the stage. There were 16 of them. Just six more would be cut before the Top 10 girls were determined. They would each get one more solo to impress the judges.The girls hit the pool while the guys went back in to learn the Broadway routine. The Kasprzak Brothers were feeling confident, given their Broadway backgrounds.Another group of six guys to the stage and sent them home, leaving 16 guys to vie for the final 10 spots.We'll have to wait until Thursday night to find out who the judges have picked for the final 20.
S5.E7 ∙ 2 of 20 Voted Off
Thursday night brought the first elimination of the fifth season of "So You Think You Can Dance?" and host Cat Deeley said it wouldn't be easy. While the pack is fairly impressive this season, it probably won't be too difficult to cut the 19th- and 20th-place finishers of the season. Stay tuned.The finalists performed an opening hip-hop routine to Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow." After an opening time-waster -- er, insightful feature about how the couples worked together -- we got to some quick results. The bottom three couples would be announced and each of those dancers would have to perform a solo before the judges decided which guy and which girl would go home.First up were Kayla & Max, Randi & Evan and Jeanine & Phillip. After quick recaps of their performances, Cat announced Kayla & Max were safe. After the vote, Randi & Evan were safe. Phillip & Jeanine were also safe, sending Jeanine into a squealing fit.The next group included Caitlin & Jason, which were immediately told they were safe. Melissa & Ade were up next, and also got the news they were safe for at least another week.That left Ashley & Kupono and Paris & Tony. After the vote, Paris & Tony were in the bottom three. Adam Shankman said he wasn't surprised by that revelation. Down to the final three couples, only one would be safe. Asuka & Vitolio were the first to learn they were in the bottom three. Mary said it didn't really shock her and told the dancers to bring it in their solos.Jeanette & Brandon and Karla & Jonathan were left to learn their fates, and Cat revealed that Karla & Jonathan were the last of the bottom three couples. After some guest performers did a sizzling tango, Paris was the first dancer to perform a solo, followed by Tony, Asuka and Vitolio. After a break, Karla and Jonathan performed their solos.Rapper Sean Kingston performed "Fire Burning" while the judges deliberated. Finally, the judges returned to their tables and Nigel said they were unanimous with the result for the girls. He asked Karla to step forward and told her they thought she was very good and did enough to stay in the competition. That left Paris and Asuka. Nigel said it was based on not just their dancing, but also who else was in the competition. Nigel told Paris he didn't think she brought all she could Thursday night and with all the other contemporary dancers on the show this season, she was going home.Nigel said the judges were, again, all in agreement. He said none of them were particularly good enough to stay in the competition much longer. Nigel told Vitolio he should try to regain his personality, because he's staying in the competition. That left Jonathan and Tony, and ultimately Tony just didn't do enough. He's gone.
S5.E8 ∙ Top 18 Perform
A week after saying goodbye to Paris and Tony, the remaining 18 contestants took to the floor on "So You Think You Can Dance" in hopes of making it through another week and maintaining a shot at the $250,000 grand prize.Crumper Lil C joined regular judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.Randi & Evan: Evan talked about how Randi cares for her dog like it's a person, and calls it on the phone. Randi said Evan is "a total gear-head," and loves anything to do with cars. They drew "jive" out of the hat for this week's routine. Choreographer Louis Van Amstel introduced them to the style. Lil C said they came "out the box with a bang." He suggested Evan be a little more explosive with his dancing, and called Randi a "firecracker." Mary said Evan and Randi were "built for the jive," and said "it really wasn't that bad," but it came a little short and she was just a little disappointed. Still, she called it a great start to the show. Nigel agreed with Mary in that the dancers were built for the jive and he told Evan he thought he'd be better than he was. He said Randi did a better job than Evan, but "as a couple, you two are really tremendous."Melissa & Ade: Ade explained that Melissa has been married for four years and her sister married her husband's brother. Melissa revealed about Ade that his full name is Adetokunbo Isaac Kayode Obayomi or "something like that." This week, they drew jazz and had Sonya Tayeh on hand to choreograph the dance. Lil C said "that's what buck." He reminded Ade of the moment when he didn't think he'd make it into the Top 20, and told Ade that he might have already become the competition. Mary said it was time to give the couple some "tough love," because "it was really tough to find anything I didn't love about it!" Nigel praised them both and told Melissa that everything Ade did, she did and equaled his strength.Caitlin & Jason: Caitlin revealed about Jason that he has a serious obsession with Michael Jackson, and it came complete with home video of a young Jason doing his moves like the King of Pop. Caitlin's big reveal was that she does a baby voice and a velociraptor impression. This week, they got a hip hop routine from choreographer Shane Sparks. Lil C said "I did not love that." Mary said it was like Michael Jackson and Britney Spears, but they didn't seem to be in sync and the chemistry didn't work. She said she didn't understand how that chemistry they had last week didn't come through this time. Nigel said he actually thought they looked good doing the slightly softer style of hip-hop that was choreographed by Shane Sparks.Jeanette & Brandon: Brandon revealed about Jeanette that when she was young she had terrible teeth. "Now, she looks like a beauty queen." Jeanette said that Brandon hadn't worked out a day in his life, despite his muscular build. This week, they pulled disco with choreographer Doriana Sanchez. Jeanette cried a bit during rehearsals over her frustration in being unable to pick up the fast steps in the routine. Lil C said it was "extremely, extremely amazing," and told Brandon he did a phenomenal job. He pointed out a mishap by Jeanette, but praised her for not missing her steps and bouncing back. Mary said she'd never seen a disco done that fast, "and the two of you just nailed it!" Then, she screamed. A lot. Nigel said if he could scream like Mary, he would.Asuka & Vitolio: Asuka said Vitolio was obsessed with motorcycles, and he told us that Asuka can make "spit bubbles." She shot a couple toward the camera. A week after finishing in the bottom three, Asuka said, "I never want to experience that again." They drew the waltz with Louis Van Amstel. He said he went for a deeper, more lyrical waltz that would express some of Vitolio's inspiring personal story. Mary took a breath and a moment to collect herself and started to cry as she explained she was "slightly disappointed" in them last week, but said this week was "painfully beautiful." Lil C said Vitolio's "choppy steps" were compensated by the honesty with which he danced. Nigel said "anybody who wasn't touched by the beauty of that routine is just heartless."Kayla & Max: Kayla said about Max that he's like a house dad at the apartment with the other dancers. He said Kayla likes to text a lot, and she said she can probably text 100 words a minute. Choreographer Brian Friedman returned to the show to put together a pop-jazz routine. Lil C said Max did a great job picking up Brian Friedman's unique style, and said Kayla was simply "amazing." Mary said she got past Max's interesting outfit, but said he was a surprise but didn't quite "sit on the throne." Mary then said Kayla was awesome and was "still on that Hot Tamale Train." Nigel told Kayla she's a front-runner. He said Max's problem is keeping up with Kayla and said he held up this week.Karla & Jonathan: Jonathan said something America might not know about Karla is that she's a bad-ass hip hop dancer and is a member of the Boogie Bots, a well-known hip hop dance group. Karla said Jonathan really loves to sing... "but he's not very good at it. It's kind of a problem, because he sings a lot." They picked a contemporary dance, choreographed by newcomer Stacey Tookey. Mary said something she'd never said in five seasons, telling Jonathan, "You did that style better than your own." She also praised Karla and said she was "spellbound" by the two of them. Nigel said he couldn't believe it and said there were "no false moves." He also praised Stacey for proving why they brought her down from "So You Think You Can Dance: Canada." Lil C said it was "buck."Jeanine & Phillip: Jeanine explained that Phillip is a super-nerd. He's an engineering and physics major. Phillips said Jeanine has a furry teddy bear she keeps with her, which she said was "like the perfect boyfriend." They drew a tango with choreographer Tony Meredith, who said he was surprised by the couple's lack of ballroom knowledge. At one point during rehearsal, Phillips accidentally groped Jeanine and she accidentally kicked him in "the no man's land." Tony Meredith was nervous. Mary gave them "an A-plus in attitude," because they carried it off, but in technique it was more like a C-minus. She said Jeanine was a hot momma out there and her technique was a lot better. Lil C started by saying he was a fan of Phillip, but told him "a lack of confidence is the heaviest anchor you can put on your heart," and said Phillip had no confidence out there. Nigel said "it wasn't good, technically. It was great entertainment."Ashley & Kupono: Ashley said Kupono had a mild OCD, which he admitted. Kupono told a story about Ashley in first grade, when everyone had to come down for story time and she projectile vomited all over everyone. They had to do a hip hop routine by Shane Sparks. Mary said "it was OK. I didn't hate it, and I didn't love it." She said it "wasn't memorable." Lil C said Kupono struggled through it and made it hard to follow him through the performance. He said he "wasn't mad" at Ashley. Nigel said the dance stopped just at the point when he was starting to enjoy it. He said he was "underwhelmed."
S5.E9 ∙ Two of 18 Voted Off
It was Thursday night, which meant it was time to eliminate two more dancers -- one guy and one girl -- on "So You Think You Can Dance."After a little montage making fun of the fact that Lil C has a wide vocabulary, host Cat Deeley got right to some results by welcoming the first three couples to the stage.First up were Melissa & Ade, who drew rave reviews from the judges. Lil C said Ade was the main competition among the guys, and Mary Murphy said it was tough to think of anything she didn't love about it. America loved it, too. They were safe.Caitlin & Jason got a little bit of help from Nigel, who gave them credit for adapting to a new style of hip hop, but Lil C and Mary didn't like it at all, with Lil C calling it a "nightmare."Before getting the results, we had to see a recap of Jeanine & Phillip's performance. Lil C had said Phillip lacked confidence and Mary thought Jeanine did a great job. Nigel said it "wasn't good, technically, but it was great entertainment."Down to Caitlin & Jason and Jeanine & Phillip for the first spot in the bottom three, it was Caitlin & Jason. Jeanine & Phillip were safe, meaning Caitlin & Jason. Mary said she wasn't surprised, "but I'm slightly disappointed." She said they nailed their Bollywood routine last week and she expected them to nail the slower hip hop, but it "didn't have the sparkle that it should have."The next group of couples to the stage included Jeanette & Brandon, who wowed the judges with their high-speed disco routine. It made Nigel want to stand up and scream like Mary. They were safe.Karla & Jonathan did a contemporary routine, which amazed Mary because she said Jonathan did the style better than his own. Nigel called it "absolutely sensational." Lil C "thought it was buck." Ashley & Kupono failed to impress the judges with their slow hip hop routine, and America wasn't impressed, either, and they landed in the bottom three. Lil C said he was shocked because they'd done so well in the first week and showed how vulnerable they were when taken out of their comfort zone.Before getting to more results, Cat told Evan she had a little surprise for him. She said that last week they held auditions in Los Angeles for next season, and Evan's brother, Ryan, made it to Vegas with another impressive tap routine.Randi & Evan did a fun jive that started Wednesday night's show "with a bang," according to Lil C. Both Mary and Nigel thought it was OK, but expected more from the couple. They were safe.Asuka & Vitolio danced an emotional waltz that incorporated elements of Vitolio's tumultuous life. Lil C enjoyed Asuka's "dominant submission." Nigel said it was like watching a different couple than he saw last week. Kayla & Max did a pop jazz routine that drew bigger raves for Kayla than Max, but Nigel said "the pair of you bring a lot to this program." Asuka & Vitolio were safe, leaving Kayla & Max in the bottom three. Nigel said "yes and no" when asked if he was shocked. He pointed out that it was the first time the show had a completely different bottom three in the first two weeks.The bottom six, who would have to perform solos, were: Caitlin, Jason, Ashley, Kupono, Kayla and Max.Be our guest: Cat appeared to give "SYTYCD" credit for helping launch the careers of Katy Perry, One Republic and Lady Gaga, noting that they each made their first major television appearances on the show. She said Kristinia DeBarge (yes, she's related -- she's the daughter of James DeBarge, co-founder of the '80s group) was joining that elite group with the performance of her single, "Goodbye."Who's in, who's out? Nigel said the panel of judges was not unanimous on either decision, which he said proved the quality of the bottom dancers.He told Caitlin the judges felt she had great quality of movement and control and made the memory of her hip hop dance a distant memory. He told Ashley she had no substance to her solo. Kayla stepped forward and Nigel told her that her solo was crowded, and advised her to reduce it a little and concentrate on her beautiful movement. The dancer leaving Thursday was Ashley.Nigel told Jason his solo was "exceptionally strong" and said it was one of the best they've had this season. He told Jason right away that he was safe. Nigel told Kupono there was "very little substance" to his solo, but they liked that he was different and that he can take on characters. Nigel said they'd never seen anyone work as hard as Max. Nigel repeated that the judges' decision was not unanimous, but the person leaving was Max.
S5.E10 ∙ Top 16 Perform
It was down to eight couples on "So You Think You Can Dance" on Wednesday night. Guest judge Toni Basil joined regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy.Toni quickly got a chance to let us know she is on the verge of receiving a Living Legend of Hip Hop award. Mary and Nigel both said they aren't totally sure what to expect from the remaining dancers, and Nigel said it was tough to say who will end up in the Top 10.This week the dancers were asked what they'd do with their lives if they weren't dancing.Karla & Jonathan: Karla said if she wasn't dancing, she'd be a journalist. Jonathan said he'd want to be an acrobat for Cirque du Soleil. The couple was served up with a Dave Scott hip-hop routine. Karla had the hip-hop swagger down in rehearsals, but Jonathan struggled a bit. How would they pull it off on stage? Nigel said there was no excitement in the routine. He said the chemistry the couple had last week wasn't there this week. Nigel wanted to take bets from the crowd that Karla & Jonathan would be in the bottom three. After his tirade, even Cat Deeley suggested Nigel got up on the wrong side of bed. Mary agreed that they weren't together on this one. Toni said it felt a little bit "store-bought" more than "gangster."Asuka & Vitolio: Asuka said she'd be a jewelry maker if she wasn't a dancer, and Vitolio said he'd be the lead singer in a band. They were hoping their waltz from last week helped give them some chemistry they could carry into this week's jazz routine with Mandy Moore. Asuka broke down in rehearsal after struggling to get the tricky jazz count. Nigel called it "fantastic." Mary said it was "really good" but didn't quite live up to the level of last week. Toni said the couple had potential to develop into a powerful couple, but advised them not to let their technique get in the way of their emotions.Melissa & Ade: Melissa said she'd be a pilates instructor if she wasn't dancing. Ade said he'd be a satellite engineer. Ade was dubbed "everybody's competition" by Lil C last week. This time, they'd be doing a rumba with choreographer Tony Meredith. They were overwhelmed with the technique in rehearsal. Melissa stumbled at one point for a split second, but caught herself quickly. Nigel complimented Melissa and called her "the sexiest girl up there," and praised Ade for giving Melissa a strong partner to undulate against. Mary said she was buying what they were selling. Toni fanned herself at the sensuality of the performance, and then she praised Tony Meredith and his partner for being so hot themselves.Janette & Brandon: Brandon said if he wasn't a dancer, he'd be a lighting designer, and Janette said she'd be a bank loan processor. A week after their super-fast disco, they drew a hip-hop routine with Dave Scott. Nigel said Brandon impressed with his hip-hop style, and said Janette also "worked it" while dancing outside of her element. Mary agreed that they hit it. Then she gave a little scream and called them "rock stars." Toni said they nailed it and had a connection.Kayla & Kupono: Kayla said she'd like to be a model if she weren't a dancer, and her new partner Kupono said he'd be a costume designer. For their first dance together, they drew a Viennese waltz with choreographer Jean Marc Genereux. Nigel said it was beautiful and elegant, but it wasn't going to make anybody stand up and cheer (and, of course, the crowd stood up and cheered). Mary called it elegant and flowing and "totally believable." Then Mary took the unusual step of putting them on the Hot Tamale Train for a slow, elegant Viennese waltz. Toni said she really liked the routine and said Kayla was "something else" and called her "really and extraordinary dancer."Randi & Evan: Randi said she'd be a teacher if she wasn't dancing and Evan said he'd probably be working in a custom car shop. They came a bit short of the judges' expectations last week, and this week they were thrown the challenge of a Mia Michaels contemporary dance that focused on Randi's butt. Nigel said it was something that would be remembered. Mary said they were terrific and called it one of the best numbers of the night. Toni poured more love onto Mia Michaels, saying that if she were a dancer on the show she'd be hoping to pull Mia's name out of the hat each week.Caitlin & Jason: Caitlin said she'd be in broadcast journalism if she wasn't a dancer, and Jason said he'd probably be playing soccer -- not in the pros, but maybe in college. After landing in the bottom three last week, Jason figured it was "only up from here." They drew a paso doble with Jean Marc and Frances Genereux. Nigel worried that Jason, at times, was performing to the audience more than to his partner, but said a lot of it was "exceptionally good." Mary said it was a strong performance, but said Jason lost his posture here and there.Jeanine & Phillip: Phillip said he'd like to be an inventor if he wasn't a dancer, and Jeanine said she'd be an actress. They landed in the bottom three and wanted to redeem themselves with a Broadway number with Tyce Diorio. Phillip ripped the seam in the back of his pants, and Nigel had the great privilege of asking Phillip to turn around and show the large rip, which revealed what appeared to be some powder blue briefs. Nigel liked Jeanine, but said he wanted Phillip to show more. Mary said Jeanine was fabulous and was glad Phillip cleared a jump of a couch that proved tricky in rehearsals. Toni said it was "adorable," but that they needed to be better than adorable.
S5.E11 ∙ Two of 16 Voted Off
Another Thursday means another guy and another girl would go home on "So You Think You Can Dance."The night started with a spicy Latin-style group number choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin, Tabitha and Napoleon that was almost too hot for TV.After an explanation of the rules for the night, host Cat Deeley introduced the judges and Nigel quickly took a moment to acknowledge the passing of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson."I don't know where you even begin to describe a global superstar like Michael Jackson," Nigel said. "He changed the face of music and dance in the world -- not just in this country, but in the world."He extended his wishes and prayers to Jackson's family, but said, "I hope their grieving is only short, because this is a life to celebrate. This is a life that remains inspirational to anybody who listens to music, anybody who wants to dance. Everyone, I think, we've had on this show has said, 'I started dancing because of Michael Jackson.'"With that, they played a clip of Jackson's "Thriller" to head into the first commercial break, "and after that we'll forget all of our sadness and get on with the show," Nigel said.Cat said that despite an emotional day, they had to get on with the results with the first five couples.First up were Asuka & Vitolio, who Nigel loved but left Mary feeling a little unfulfilled. They were in the bottom three.Janette & Brandon "worked it," according to the judges, and were safe for another week.Randi & Evan made quite an impact with a Mia Michaels routine that put the spotlight on Randi's butt. "Your butt made the cut," Cat said, telling them they were safe.Jeanine & Phillip's Broadway routine was fun, but Nigel said Phillip had to grow more as a dancer. They were safe.Melissa & Ade did a sensual rumba that Mary and Nigel both loved, with Nigel saying, "What a difference Ade makes." They were safe.Karla & Jonathan frustrated the judges with a poor hip-hop performance and Nigel wanted to bet the crowd that the couple would be in the bottom three. Nigel was right. He said he wasn't proud of getting it right. He said "they didn't get themselves together."Caitlin & Jason and Kayla & Kupono the last two couples waiting to find out which one of them would take the final spot in the bottom three. Kayla & Kupono were safe, leaving Caitlin & Jason in the bottom.Toni said she wasn't surprised to see Karla & Jonathan in the bottom, and she was not going to second-guess America's decision.Cat was blown away by the Rage Boys Crew, the guest performers for the evening, a group made up of a bunch of young guys, including a little dude who couldn't have been older than 10 and had some serious moves.In this order, the bottom three performed their solos: Asuka, Vitolio, Karla, Jonathan, Caitlin and Jason.While the judges deliberated, electro-pop band The Veronicas, performed.Nigel said the vote was unanimous among the girls. First, he told Caitlin she was growing in confidence every week and turned in the best solo of the night. She was safe.He told Karla she looked a little desperate during her solo and wasn't as strong as they believe she has been in the past. He told Asuka she was an exciting performer, "but we do feel as if you are not growing in the competition." With that, Asuka was out.Nigel said the vote among the guys was not unanimous. He started with Vitolio, who he said always showed a great deal of promise, but then doesn't always deliver. Nigel told him not to hold back. Next, he asked Jonathan to step forward, noting that "we continually find you, too, in the bottom three." Nigel said he didn't believe Jonathan had brought the dancing required to win. Nigel told Jason his solo was "full of desperation." But Jason was safe.Nigel told Vitolio and Jonathan than neither of them were particularly strong at this point, but Vitolio was staying and Jonathan was out.
S5.E12 ∙ Top 14 Perform
The top 14 dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance" set out on Wednesday to stay in the competition, but first they'd have to get by the judges, and notorious choreographer Mia Michaels was the one who joined the regulars this week.Mia jumped right into the spotlight immediately, showering herself with attention after she was asked immediately after her introduction whether her opinion of "any" dancers has changed since the audition rounds. Remember, she famously ripped Brandon, saying she didn't know what the other judges, Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, saw in him. She said her opinion had changed "for the better," but "without naming names," although everyone knew exactly who she was talking about.This week, the dancers talked about their highs and lows throughout the competition, thus far. It really turned into the dancers just cataloging their dances to this point.Janette & Brandon: Speaking of Brandon, he and partner Janette were up first. They were doing a cha cha cha with Jean Marc Genereux and his wife Frances. Nigel said it was "possibly the best damn cha cha I have ever seen on this show." Mary gave the couple "two first-class tickets on the Hot Tamale Train." Mia took her chance to make amends with Brandon. She told him she's toughest on the dancers in whom she sees the most ability and potential, and Brandon cried. "You're going to love me and hate me on this journey," Mia said, "because I'm going to dig in and take you to a place where you've never been because you are -- you're amazing." She said Janette had been "on fire since Day 1."Kayla & Kupono: Kayla and Kupono were matched up with Sonya Tayeh for a contemporary routine that Sonya called "dark." Nigel said he was seeing a new man in Kupono. He said "everything about it was absolutely tremendous." Mary again praised Kayla for her legs and her moves, and said they had great chemistry as a couple. Mia said it was Sonya's best piece on the show, and she told Kupono he's "growing."Randi & Evan: Randi and Evan went Broadway with choreographer Joey Dowling, who said it wasn't a traditional musical theater piece, but had a lot of power. Joey said the couple struggled, despite her high expectations. Nigel thanked Joey for bringing back the throwback style that was a bit of an homage to Bob Fosse and others. Nigel had some critiques, but said they were still among his Top 10. Mary said they were getting crazy watching such great dancing, and said it was "entertaining." Mia said something was missing for her and they didn't take the performance to the level where she thought it could go.Caitlin & Jason: Choreographer Brian Friedman promised to give Caitlin and Jason a unique jazz dance, in which Caitlin was meant to portray an alien female who's come down to Earth and is approaching the last man on Earth, with whom she is meant to procreate. Nigel rightly said it was "very weird." He said they both committed themselves 100 percent, but then he commented on the costume Caitlin was wearing, calling it a "dancing condom." Mary said it just didn't sit right with her. Mary said Brian Friedman probably wasn't going into this one thinking it would be the greatest piece he's done, but he was having fun with it. She didn't care for the costume, either.Jeanine & Phillip: It was hip-hop time for Jeanine and Phillip as they met with Tabitha and Napoleon, who gave them the added challenge of chaining the dancers together. Napoleon admitted the idea sounded great at the time when they thought of it, but he was getting nervous about it as the rehearsals wore on. The element of danger was always there, but they pulled off the routine without falling over the chain. Nigel said if they keep dancing like that, they should "be chained together for life." Mary said it was incredibly creative and praised them both before telling Jeanine she was "crazy good" and took her breath away. Mia said she was a bit distracted by the chain, but they did a great job. Jeanine made a little faux pas, talking about how much they were working with the chain to get the performance just right, saying, "we have chains all over our apartment."Melissa & Ade: Choreographer Thordal Christensen gave them a routine from "Romeo & Juliet," and Melissa said it had always been her dream to play Juliet. Melissa wore point shoes, a "So You Think You Can Dance" first, for the traditional dance. "Who would have believed that in five seasons, we're now doing traditional ballet on 'So You Think You Can Dance'?" Nigel said. He called it "a really big first." Mary said she loved it and called it "really beautiful." She said they put her "in a dream-like state, and, honestly, I just didn't want to wake up." Mia said she was excited they were celebrating classical ballet on the show, and that "it was danced as well as it was danced."Dizzy Feet Foundation: There was a segment dedicated to talking about a new scholarship program called the Dizzy Feet Foundation, founded by Nigel Lythgoe, "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba, and Katie Holmes, among others, to help make dance education to some underprivileged children. Check out dizzyfeetfoundation.org for more information.Nigel also announced that Katie Holmes' dancing tribute to Judy Garland, choreographed by Tyce Diorio, will air on the show's 100th episode on July 23.Karla & Vitolio: Performing for the first time together after losing their partners last week, Karla and Vitolio were introduced to Jean Marc and France Genereux for the dreaded quickstep. Nigel praised most everything, only criticizing a couple of spots that were a little too rigid. Mary said "so much for the kiss of death dance," saying they brought the quickstep to life. Mia said Jean Marc was a genius and said the piece was amazing. She told Vitolio he confuses her, because he's often too wild and needs to get more consistent. She told Karla that she sometimes looked a little scared, but she loved the dance.
S5.E13 ∙ Two of 14 Voted Off
It was going to be an extra long holiday weekend for one guy and one girl on "So You Think You Can Dance" as another Thursday night brought about another round of eliminations.After a picture perfect (sorry, couldn't resist) opening dance routine in which all the dancers emerged as characters in a painting who came to life after the art gallery closed, host Cat Deeley brought out the first two couples: Karla & Vitolio and Randi & Evan. Cat promised us that one of them was safe and the other was in the bottom three. Randi & Evan were safe, meaning Karla & Vitolio were in the bottom three.Nigel said the couple were "no strangers to the bottom three," and said they would cope with it OK. We'd find out with their solos later in the evening.Among the next three couples to the stage were Janette & Brandon, who sent the judges into a tizzy with their cha cha cha. They'll ride the Hot Tamale Train all the way to at least next week.Kayla & Kupono and Melissa & Ade remained on stage awaiting their fate. Both couples wowed the judges and the audience with their performances the night before. Melissa looked a little down when Cat asked, "Would classical ballet translate into votes?" The answer was yes, and Melissa's frown was turned upside down. That left Kayla & Kupono in the bottom three, and Mia Michaels said she was completely shocked. She said the couple was important to the competition and needed to stay in it.The final two couples to the stage were Caitlin & Jason and Jeanine & Phillip. Did Caitlin & Jason's alien dance prove too weird for viewers to handle? The final couple safe, Cat announced, was Caitling & Jason. That meant Jeanine & Phillip were among the bottom three couples.So the bottom six dancers performing solos were Karla, Vitolio, Kayla, Kupono, Jeanine and Phillip. Mary said she couldn't wait to see Phillip's solo, and Cat noted that we haven't seen Jeanine do her own style, contemporary.It's worth noting that Vitolio chose the potentially ominous "Here Comes Goodbye," by Rascal Flatts.Be our guests: Dancers Desmond Richardson and Patricia Hachey kept the classical ballet groove going with a traditional pas de deux that Cat noted was a dazzling display of "strength and beauty." Kelly Clarkson popped in later to perform her new single, "I Do Not Hook Up."Cutting time: Nigel came back to the judges' table and said they were unanimous with their decisions tonight. He told Jeanine that it can be a challenge dancing with a partner who gets as much attention as Phillip, but her solo was the best of the night, and he sent her back to safety.Nigel told Kayla she was one of the judges' favorites, but said she was "exceptionally static" in her solo and was "not really dancing from the heart." He then told Karla that was "without question, a very, very good dancer," but she hadn't "captured the star quality" that she'd had in the beginning. He sent Karla home, meaning Kayla was safe.Nigel then addressed the guys, and asked Phillip to step forward. He told Phillip he was unique and "absolutely superb" at what he does. He told Phillip he'd get more chances to master the other forms of dance, because he was safe.Nigel next told Vitolio he always presents himself "brilliantly," but doesn't end up delivering. He then knocked Kupono for a weakly choreographed solo, saying "we need so much more passion from anybody who is going to be on this show." Kupono would get opportunities to prove himself, because he was safe, meaning it was the end of the road for Vitolio.
S5.E15 ∙ Two of 12 Voted Off
"So You Think You Can Dance" finally got down to the Top 10, but not before an exhilarating group performance to The White Stripes' "Seven-Nation Army."It was Nigel Lythgoe's 60th birthday, but there was one gift the judge and executive producer was missing. Nigel explained that there were plans for a big Michael Jackson tribute performance with various choreographers pitching in with multiple dance styles to be performed to several of Jacko's tunes. But the rights to use the music on the show were denied, so there was no such dance.Judge Mary Murphy said it will be tough when, starting next week, the judges no longer have any say in who stays and who goes.The first two couples to the stage were Caitlin & Jason and Jeanette & Brandon. The first couple in the bottom three was Jason & Caitlin, for the third time. Mary said the couple hadn't recaptured the magic they had in their first piece on the show, the Bollywood dance.Up next were Randi & Evan and Jeanine & Phillip. The next couple in the bottom three were Jeanine & Phillip.Finally, Melissa & Ade and Kayla & Kupono were called to the stage to see which couple would claim the final spot in the bottom three. Melissa & Ade slipped into the bottom three for the first time all season.The six dancers fighting to stay alive were Caitlin, Jason, Jeanine, Phillip, Melissa and Ade.Be our guest: DJ David Guetta and Kelly Rowland paid a visit to perform her single, "When Love Takes Over."To the results...: Nigel said the judges came to their decision from a positive standpoint, focusing on the girls they wanted to keep, rather than who they wanted to cut. But someone had to go, and it was Caitlin's time, meaning Melissa and Jeanine would live to see at least another week.Nigel said the judges were, again, unanimous in their decision with the guys. Then he told Phillip that it was the end of the road for him.Still, he'll be hitting the road, along with Caitlin, as Nigel announced that he's secured them both a spot on the "So You Think You Can Dance" tour, which is normally reserved for just the Top 10.
S5.E16 ∙ Top 10 Perform
The Top 10 are set, which meant Wednesday was the beginning of a whole new competition on "So You Think You Can Dance." The judges no longer hold any sway when it comes to determining who stays and who goes as the decision is now left entirely to the voters. Another wrinkle starting this week is that voters are dialing in for their favorite individuals, rather than couples.The dancers now have to pick their partners from a hat, as well as their dances, throwing a whole new set of variables into the mix -- including the potential for some mismatched dancers, in terms of size.Guest judge Debbie Allen joined regular panelists Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe this week, and she said three of her top guys and three of her top girls are still in the competition.Up first was a Bollywood routine by the top five girls, choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan. NIgel said the fivesome was one of the most beautiful groups of girls he's seen work together in the show's history. He said all five of them were fantastic and were "lacking nothing." Mary added that the five girls were "absolutely stunning," and said she could see any one of them in the final. Debbie agreed, calling the performance "an amazing cultural fusion." She agreed that it was the best top five group of girls the show has ever had.Kayla & Evan: Kayla thought it was cool to have a partner with such a unique style as Evan, who noted that he's the shortest guy and Kayla is the tallest girl. That could pose a problem when it came to ballroom dancing. Just their luck, they pulled the Viennese waltz with Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin. In the end, Evan wore heeled boots and Kayla wore flats. Nigel said it wasn't much of a Viennese waltz and more like a regular fast waltz, but he praised the way they danced what they were given by the choreographers. Mary said Evan's motionless turns were not good enough and it didn't flow. She said Kayla was taking it to another level and called her "fabulous." Debbie called it an unexpected surprise and said Evan handled his "big woman." She then dubbed the couple "White Lightning and Gene Kelly."Jeanette & Ade: Jeanette pulled Ade's name out of the hat, which made for the opposite height difference in that Ade is the tallest guy in the competition and Jeanette said she was the shortest girl (which might call for a standoff between Jeanette and Randi for confirmation). They drew a hip-hop routine from Tabitha & Napoleon. Nigel said they both danced great. Mary said it was "funky" and was "a lot of fun." She called Jeanette "a spicy little hot tamale from Miami." Debbie said the dance wore her out and made her want to jump on stage and join them.Jeanine & Jason: Jeanine said it wasn't so hard to look at Jason all day, which made her new partnership nice. They landed a contemporary routine with Season 2 finalist Travis Wall, who was choreographing for the first time. The crowd loved the passionate routine that probably lacked a little subtlety. Nigel praised Travis for his first routine, and said they'd both become stars. Mary was at a loss for words. She literally didn't speak for a moment before belting out, "You two are stars!" She wept as she told Jason not to let anyone underestimate his strength and power, and she told Jeanine were light keeps shining "brighter and brighter and brighter." She did her first-ever silent scream, apparently as a favor to the sound tech. Debbie added to the love.Randi & Kupono: When the couple was announced, Kupono said he wanted to put Randi in his pocket because she's "teeny-tiny." They pulled a paso doble with Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin. Nigel made up for his criticism of Tony and Meredith's choreography this time, and said the dancing didn't match the choreography. He said it didn't work for him. He said he lost Kupono about halfway through the routine. He said there was "very little passion" between them and it wasn't "authentic in any way." Mary said some dancers would rise to the new challenges and some would not, "and this is falling somewhere below the 'not' for me." She said "mediocre will not cut it." Debbie said it was hard not to agree, noting some awkwardness and wondering whether the couple lacked trust.Melissa & Brandon: Melissa and Brandon scored a Broadway routine, a piece from "Hair," choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. Nigel said it was great and "brought back so many memories" for him. Mary said it was unbelievable and said they were the stars of the show. Debbie said they were seamless and called it "a joy to watch."The top five guys closed the show together with a group performance, an African dance choreographed by Jeffrey Page. Nigel said the routine was one of the toughest they've ever had on the show. He said no one stuck out in a bad way because all the guys held their own.
S5.E17 ∙ Two of 10 Voted Off
The top 10 dancers stormed the stage in a Japanese inspired number choreographed by Wade and Amanda Robson on "So You Think You Can Dance." The producers were in a mood for celebrating on Thursday after receiving word that four choreographers -- Mia Michaels, Tyce DiOrio, Tabitha & Napoleon Dumo, and former "Dance" contestant Dmitry Chaplin -- received Emmy nominations that morning.Guest host Debbie Allen was seated at the judges' table alongside regular Mary Murphy, but Nigel Lythgoe was missing from the panel because he was out receiving an honorary doctorate of arts from the University of Bedfordshire in England. That sounds made up. I'm just saying.It didn't matter, though, because the judges were pure window dressing on Thursday as they no longer had a say in who stayed or who left. The vote, for the first time all season, was entirely in the hands of the voters.To the results: The five girls came on to the stage to learn their fate. First up was Jeanette, who got the news that she was safe.Randi, who'd disappointed the judges with a lack of chemistry with her new partner Kupono, was in the bottom two girls.Jeanine was safe after thoroughly impressing the judges. She ran off stage into a quite close embrace with Jason.Kayla, who'd been described as "White Lightning" by Debbie Allen, and Melissa, who amazed the judges Wednesday, were left to find out their fate. Melissa fell into the bottom two.Season 6 Preview: Host Cat Deeley previewed some of the best and worst of the next season of "So You Think You Can Dance," which will air in the fall for the first time.Back to the results: The top five guys took the stage to find out who was safe and who was in danger.Jason was up first and, after receiving a standing ovation Wednesday, received another week of safety from the voters.Evan was next, wearing his Gene Kelly-esque white suit and black bow tie. After less-than-flattering remarks from the judges (except for Debbie), Evan learned he was safe.Kupono, who'd disappointed the judges with his performance with Randi, also disappointed the voters and landed in the bottom two.Ade and Brandon were left. Ade was "mesmerizing," according to Debbie, and Brandon gave what the judges called a "seamless" performance. Ade was in the bottom two.Looking ahead: Next week's episode, the show's 99th, was going to feature guest judge Mia Michaels and special guest Ellen Degeneres. Thursday night's results show, the 100th episode, would also feature a trip down memory lane, with highlights of the show's most memorable performances, and a tribute to Judy Garland by Katie Holmes.Flying solo: All four dancers in danger were given 30 seconds each to show off their solo skills even though they wouldn't have any effect on the results.Be our guest: The Black Eyed Peas stopped by to perform their new single, "I Gotta Feeling," which likely made Perez Hilton switch the channel. Taboo came on stage wearing a replica Michael Jackson jacket from the "Thriller" video. Once the performance was over, he opened the jacket to reveal an MJ T-Shirt, as did apl.de.ap.Exit, stage left: Randi and Melissa awaited word on which of them would go home, but Cat put the suspense to rest quickly by telling Randi her dance number was up.Ade and Kupono stood side by side for the final word from Cat, and Kupono was told he'd have to take his funky outfits and charming personality somewhere else, because it was time for him to go.
S5.E18 ∙ Top Eight Perform
It was a special night on "So You Think You Can Dance" Wednesday as the show marked its 99th episode with special guest judge Ellen Degeneres. Host Cat Deeley also welcomed back Dr. Nigel Lythgoe to the show. The executive producer and judge received an honorary doctorate degree last week and missed the results show because he was back at University of Bedfordshire in England for the ceremony.Emmy-nominated choreographer Mia Michaels was on the panel for the big show, which was padded with two dance styles from each couple, a solo from each dancer, and a big group number choreographed by Season 2's Travis Wall to start the night.Jeanette & Evan: A Sonya Tayeh contemporary routine was ordered up for Jeanette & Evan, forcing Evan into a style with which he isn't very comfortable. Nigel told Evan he was "finally getting more" of what he's been asking for all season. Ellen said she could do that, then described the wine spritzer she drank before the show, calling it rich and full-bodied, among other things. Mary said Evan was "spot on" and told Jeanette she "just can't take a wrong step out there." Mia told Evan he's a great dancer but she wanted more, then she told Jeanette she's her "favorite, favorite, favorite this season."Jeanine & Brandon: Brandon pulled Jeanine's name out of the hat and they got a waltz with choreographer Hunter Johnson. Jeanine was looking forward to being elegant, which cued the clips of her falling over her own two feet during rehearsals. Could they pull it together on stage? Nigel called it an "extremely tough" routine and said he didn't like the music, saying it was too slow. He said he was "a little disappointed" and said he didn't get what he's hoped from them. Ellen went on a tangent about something Twyla Tharp once told her when they were standing in line together, but said she enjoyed the performance. Mary said they "did it respectable," but she would have liked some things a lot stronger. Mia said there were so many hiccups and "stuck moments" that it didn't take her away, and usually the waltz does.Melissa & Ade: Melissa and Ade were reunited, and it presumably felt so good. They drew a cha cha with Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin. They were a little overwhelmed early on, but Melissa thought they'd be OK with a lot of practice. Nigel said it was "really good," and that the routine gave him a lot of material to show off with. Ellen asked, "Are you two carpenters? Because you nailed it!" Mary said the execution of the material was nailed, but she felt like everything was in slow motion and it exposed a couple of problems, like Ade's "bum" being lifted two high and Melissa's feet being too far turned in. Mia told Ade she thought it was his worst performance all season because it was "kind of thrown all over the place" and he wasn't getting down and dirty. She told Melissa she did an excellent job of breaking down the ballerina's alignment she's used to and letting her hips loose.Jason & Kayla: The final couple announced was Jason and Kayla and they drew a jazzy Broadway routine with Tyce DiOrio. The couple struggled to find their chemistry at the outset, but hoped to make the best of it. Nigel said Jason's toes and feet were "absolutely terrific" and that some bits reminded him of Gene Kelly. He told Kayla she was a great dancer and can do anything that's thrown at her. He said it was one of the best routines he'd seen this week. Ellen said she didn't know what to say and that she really just wanted to come to a taping of the show and the spot on the judge's panel was a good seat. Mary said everything was great, Jason was suave and Kayla was riding first class on the Hot Tamale train. She even pulled out a train whistle, which she tooted. Mia said she felt like the only sane person on the panel. She told Jason to open up his upper body because it was destroying his lines. Mia told Kayla she should sing and act because she could take Broadway by storm. She said, "When look in the dictionary at 'girl,' 'perfection' and 'star,' there's a picture of Kayla."Jeanette & Evan, Part 2: The couple pulled the rumba with Tony & Melanie. Nigel said Jeanette had the sensual, sexy thing down pat, but "there just didn't appear to be anything passionate" in Evan's face. He told Evan to perform with his face more. Ellen said she loved Evan's face and eyes and said the problem with being in L.A. is that everyone's face starts to look exactly alike. She added that she thought Jeanette was incredible. Mary said Evan did "a very good job." She called Jeanette a little hot tamale. Mia agreed with Ellen, telling Evan that not everyone has to be a sex pot and said that not a lot of people bring what Evan does to the stage. She said she wasn't sure if she wanted to see Evan be sexy, but he did it ... with a Zoolander face. She added that she didn't have to say anything more about Jeanette because she said it all earlier, when she called Jeanette her favorite dancer in the competition.Jeanine & Brandon, Part 2: For their second routine, Jeanine and Brandon drew a pop jazz routine with Laurieann Gibson, who told them not to think it, but to dance it. Nigel said "that's all I'm asking." He wanted more performances like that at this point in the competition. He said it was "the flattest night" he'd ever experienced on the show until this performance. Ellen said she was "that happy, too." She said it was "really, really unbelievable." Mary said it was "strong" and "powerful," and asked Nigel, Mia and Ellen if they could hear it. Then she shouted the Hot Tamale Train shout. She also said they were going to ride that train into the finale. Mia said Brandon was so powerful and congratulated Jeanine for keeping up with him.Melissa & Ade, Part 2: An emotional contemporary piece about a woman with breast cancer was choreographed for Melissa & Ade by Tyce DiOrio. They were convinced this performance was less about their steps and more about conveying the story. Nigel said the performance showed him why he loves dance so much, "because it can express so many emotions without any words." Nigel got choked up as he spoke and said he would be "hugely surprised" if Tyce didn't earn another Emmy nomination. He said he couldn't think of a better couple to have danced it and praised Ade for his strength, which gave Melissa the courage to do some of the jumps she did. Ellen said she'd been wanting to come see a taping live for a long time and that she felt "so privileged" that she got to witness that and she'd always remember it. "It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," she said. Mary said it was taking her back to a scary place and said she, too, would never forget it. She, too, wept as she spoke. Mia was crying before she even started talking, calling it "an important piece of work." She said she wished she had the strength that they had in their performance for her daddy. And she thanked Tyce and Ade and Melissa.Kayla & Jason, Part 2: For their second performance, Kayla & Jason had to present a somewhat disturbing hip-hop performance in which Jason portrayed a zombie who'd taken Kayla as his personal zombie mistress. Nigel said he enjoyed the Michael Jackson inspiration and said it was why he brought Shane back. He said it was another example of how the second part of the night "knocked the ball out of the ball park." Ellen told them if they keep dancing like that, "you'll have your own talk show some day." Mary said they "hit it hard" and that she "loved every second of it." Mia told Shane it was her favorite piece he's ever done on the show and that she loved the final image that had Jason lift Kayla as if he was strangling her. "It was disturbingly hot," she said.
S5.E19 ∙ Two of Eight Voted Off
There was an hour-long night in store for the special marking of the 100th episode of "So You Think You Can Dance" on Thursday night.Despite all the pomp and pageantry, which would include some trips down memory to relive some of the show's greatest moments in its five-year history and a special performance by Katie Holmes, another couple of dancers would be heading home once the results were known.Mia Michaels said that in looking back on 100 episodes, she most appreciated the professionalism around the show. Mary Murphy got a bit emotional about her time on the show and as she looked back at the faces of many past "Dance" finalists who were in the crowd. Nigel Lythgoe remarked at what kind of special moments the show could provide, including Wednesday night's Tyce DiOrio dancing tribute to breast cancer survivors.A highlight (and lowlight) reel showed some of the memorable moments in the show's history.To the results: Cat Deeley brought the final four girls to the stage for the first part of the results reading. She called out Melissa first, who'd been half of one the most talked about single performances in the show's history.Kayla was next, and Cat broke the bad news that Kayla was in the bottom two girls.Janette and Jeanine waited for word on which of them would be in the second girl in the bottom two. Janette, who'd never been in the bottom two before, broke new ground by slipping into the bottom.Memory lane...: Hok and Jamie returned to perform Wade Robson's "The Hummingbird and the Flower" routine.Back to the results: Ade was the first of the guys to get called out. But before he learned his fate, Cat summarized Jason's Wednesday performances. Jason was the one in the bottom two guys. Ade was safe,That left Evan and Brandon to find out which of them would take the second bottom-two spot. Surprisingly, it was Brandon in the bottom two, leaving Evan safe for at least another week.Play it again...: Travis and Heidi returned to perform Mia Michaels' Emmy-nominated "Bench routine."Flying solo: The bottom four dancers performed their solos.Encore!: The group that first brought us "Ramalama" was back, including choreographer Wade Robson,What's up, Holmes?: The highly anticipated Judy Garland tribute performance by Katie Holmes was finally unleashed, but not before she talked about why she became interested in working with the Dizzy Feet Foundation (dizzyfeetfoundation.org).Who stays? Who goes?: Kayla and Janette were the bottom two girls, and after Wednesday's vote, Janette was sent home.Nigel said his favorites often don't win, but admitted that Janette was his favorite and he wanted her to win the competition. Janette said she realized how much she loves to dance and that "this is what I'm meant to do."Jason and Brandon came to center stage to hear their results. The person with the lowest number of votes was Jason. Brandon was safe.
S5.E20 ∙ Top Six Perform
Down to six dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance," they vied for just four spots in next week's finale in which the results will determine America's favorite dancer and that person will receive the $250,000 prize.Head judge Nigel Lythgoe nailed it, saying that the final six now have to bring some real personality."This is probably our best top 20, but it's been a little equal standard," he said. "But I haven't seen anybody, sort of, pop like Twitch did last year, or Joshua, or Katee, or Courtney. ... They've got to come through now and stand out. At the moment, I think, we're often voting on the choreography and the great routines and people are voting for that."The dancers would perform four times each -- twice as couples, once in a solo, and once in a group number. Choreographer Sonya Tayeh put together the group routine for the three final guys. The fellas looked liked futuristic oompa loompas in what Sonya called a "Willy Wonka"-inspired routine. It was powerful.Guest judge Lil C said he loved that Brandon was such a dedicated dancer. He reiterated that people should "watch out" for Ade. He commended Evan for "not getting swallowed by the dominant excellence of Ade and Brandon." He praised Evan for staying "very visible throughout the whole routine."Mary said she just loved. "Yes I did!" She commended all of them and said "it goes to show why the three of you are standing there together tonight. Congratulations."Nigel agreed with what the other judges said, but said Evan stood out, "because I've never seen him do anything like this."Jeanine & Ade: Choreographer Louis van Amstel put together a non-traditional samba for Jeanine and Ade, who promised it would be "very sexy." Mary said the first 15 seconds were hot, but then it started to fall apart. "It looked so novice to me," she said. Lil C said Jeanine looked "amazing," then added, "Wow!" He said he was excited for the pairing, but "it really fell short for me." Nigel said Jeanine did "a wonderful job," but told Ade he had to change his style a bit.Melissa & Evan: Melissa was excited to be partnered with Evan because of his personality, and he said Melissa would be a great partner. They drew a Broadway piece with Tyce DiOrio. The genre seemed to be right in Evan's wheelhouse. Lil C said he was again excited for the routine and he didn't feel like Evan didn't "take the helm." He said they were both "really good," but came up short of "excellence." Mary said it was "really fun and entertaining." She praised them both and told Melissa, "I still don't think you've really taken a wrong step." Nigel complimented Melissa for adapting so well to every routine despite her ballet background. Nigel said the question for Evan was whether he brought enough personality to the routine. "For me, yes you did."Kayla & Brandon: Kayla was excited to get a chance to dance with Brandon, who she called strong. They drew a contemporary piece with Stacey Tookey. It was about a mistress and a married man when the mistress couldn't summon the strength to leave him. Stacey pulled out all the stops with the choreography to give the dancers a chance to shine. Lil C said he'd keep it short, calling it "really, really intense," and "beyond intense, that was really, really amazing." Mary reminded Brandon he was on the Hot Tamale Train and was "riding first class." She also called Kayla "exquisite." Nigel called it brilliant, but wished the pair would have had a chance to dance together earlier in the competition so they could perfect their chemistry.Jeanine & Ade, Part 2: For their second dance, they drew a hip-hop routine with Napoleon & Tabitha. The dance included some work with props (cardboard boxes, because they were portraying a couple that had been evicted from their apartment), and some fancy legwork that made Jeanine fall over a few times in rehearsal. Lil C said they "danced that way better than I thought you were." Mary took a moment to go back to Jeanine and praise her for her work on the samba. Mary said the couple wouldn't be getting an eviction notice after that performance. Nigel said the routine was worth applauding, but they "got down, and it was absolutely fantastic from the pair of you."Solo shout out: Brandon's solo was worth pointing out because the judges all gave him a standing ovation and Nigel felt compelled to note that Brandon had "just given us one of the best solos we've ever seen."Melissa & Evan, Part 2: The dreaded quickstep with Louis van Amstel awaited Melissa and Evan. Lil C praised Evan "for dancing bigger than you've ever danced before, for me." He told Melissa she looked fabulous and did a fabulous job. Mary said Louis created a magnificent routine for the second time this week. Mary said it had more life at the beginning, "but as it went along, everything just started to crumble down and just fall apart." Nigel said it wasn't quite one of the best routines of the night.Kayla & Brandon, Part 2: Doriana Sanchez whipped up a disco routine that she hoped would top the most difficult ones of the season. She promised a fun, challenging and exciting routine. Lil C said something about seeing things with your ears so that there would be no darkness. Mary said they hit a home run. She yelled at Brandon about saying he had self-esteem problems, telling him he was fabulous and had to believe in himself. Nigel said it was quite easy to to hype a crowd with music and loud screaming, so he gave himself a moment to critique it professionally -- then he proceeded to literally jump out of his seat, shouting and waving his arms in approval for them.Girls' group routine: Sonya Tayeh came back to choreograph the girls' group routine in which they portrayed superheroes. During rehearsals, Jeanine accidentally elbowed Kayla in the face. Lil C thought they "didn't really go for the gusto" and played it a bit safe. Mary liked it and said they should bring the performance to next year's Comic-Con.
S5.E21 ∙ Two of Six Voted Off
The final four contestants on "So You Think You Can Dance" were revealed during Thursday night's results show, but not before an hour's worth of music and dance.The night began with a somber group performance to "Send in the Clowns," choreographed by Tyce DiOrio.To the results: The final three girls were brought on stage pretty quickly and after going over the recaps of the judges' comments on each of the dancers, host Cat Deeley announced that the first dancer sent through to next week's finale was Jeanine. And the crowd went wild.Lil C said her place in the finals was "worthy, indeed."More results: Cat brought the top three guys to center stage to find out which of them would take the second of four spots in the finale. The first guy's spot in the finale went to Brandon. The crowd erupted.Judge Mary Murphy stood and she cheered for him and couldn't imagine that Mia Michaels and Lil C initially didn't think he deserved a spot in the Top 20.Memory lane: Jessica and Will from last season performed their Tyce DiOrio routine that earned him an Emmy nomination. Next in the string of Emmy nominees later in the show were Katee and Twitch, who did their Mia Michaels routine from last season. Chelsie and Joshua returned to perform their tango, choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin. Chelsie returned, this time paired with Mark, for their hip-hop routine choreographed by Tabitha & Napoleon.Also, the winners of America's Best Dance Crew, the JabbaWozkeeZ, took the stage and offered up a nice group popping and locking performance. Grammy winner Sean Paul visited to perform his song, "So Fine."The final word: Cat brought Melissa and Kayla to the stage to announce that the last girls' spot in the finale went to Kayla. That left a smiling but tearful Melissa out of the big finish. "I did things on this show I didn't think I could do," Melissa said.Finally, Ade and Evan found out that the last spot in the finale would be filled by Evan.So your finalists for "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 5 are: Jeanine, Brandon, Kayla and Evan.
S6.E1 ∙ Audition Show #1
After five seasons, the summer sensation that is "So You Think You Can Dance (Dance... Dance... Dance...)" arrived on the fall schedule Wednesday night with host Cat Deeley promising the best season ever. It might have been more interesting if she said this season would probably rank about third or fourth on the all-time list.The one-hour audition show brought us to Los Angeles, where the contestants were subjected to the same rules fans already know: the best dancers would get a ticket to the next round in Las Vegas, the worst would go home, and the in-betweens would be asked to come back at the end of the day for a bit of group choreography as a last chance to see if they belong.Cole Clemens vowed to be unique and succeeded. He made little use of judge Nigel Lythgoe's standard line of "Cue, music." Cole moved without music and did some kind of living art type of deal that ended with him blowing out an invisible candle in the palm of his hand. After working to contain their laughter, the judges told Cole he wasn't what they were looking for.Mollee Gray, an 18-year-old Utah resident whose mom brought her out to L.A. to make her dream come true, vowed to make her mom proud. She captivated the judges immediately, with guest Adam Shankman saying during her audition that "she is so this show." The judges told Mollee she was great, but still had room to grow. She'll get that chance in the next round after getting voted through unanimously.After a montage of more good dancers who earned their tickets to Las Vegas, we got to see the reunion of two of last season's dancers who were eliminated too soon: Ryan Kasprzak, the older brother of Evan, who finished in third place last season; and Bianca Revels, who vowed that last season was her last chance, came back.Ryan, whose strength last season was Broadway-style dance, took tap dancing head on and did a routine with no musical accompaniment. Adam said it was "perfect" and one of the best auditions he'd ever seen. Nigel agreed and called it "one of the most unique and brilliant auditions" they'd ever seen. Ryan got his ticket punched for Vegas.Bianca was welcomed back and Nigel introduced the idea of a tap battle. He threw down the gauntlet and asked Bianca if she'd battle Ryan. She took him up on the offer, with Ryan clarifying that in tap it's called "trading" not "battling." Regardless of what anyone called it, Bianca will be joining Ryan in Vegas.Christopher Aguilar claimed he had a plan to produce a Fred-and-Ginger-inspired movie and call it "Drum Song." His routine started with an ill-fated backflip in which he landed on his knees. It didn't get any better, but it was amusing as the judges joined in the singing of "All That Jazz." Christopher went away after being told he was "fascinating and interesting," but not good enough for the show.The second day in L.A. brought about even more great auditions, starting with Amber Williams, who danced in honor of her mother, who was left partially paralyzed during a routine operation gone awry. Amber wowed the judges with the lightness of her feet and Mary Murphy called her "a force to be reckoned with." She'd continued to be a force in Las Vegas.Amber was followed by contemporary dancers Alexie Agdeppa and Paula van Oppen, who mesmerized the judges with their routines and moved to the next round.Christina Santana wanted to offer up something a little different, which she called a salsa-hip hop kind of fusion. Nigel said she put a smile on everybody's face and called her audition "thrilling to watch." Christina told the judges she also does ballet, jazz and belly dancing. She might get a chance to show those other moves in the next round.Phillip Attmore, who was roommates with Ryan Kasprzak when they were on tour with "Fosse," said Ryan has a happy face on his butt. Phillip was a tapper and Nigel said it was the year of the tappers as he and the rest of the judges sent Phillip through to the next round.
S6.E2 ∙ Audition Show #2
The "So You Think You Can Dance" auditions headed east from Los Angeles, but not too far, as they landed in Phoenix on the quest to find America's favorite dancer for the sixth time.Choreographer extraordinaire Mia Michaels joined regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy to critique the talent that the desert had to offer.The first pair, "Biggie and Shortie," were sort of a modern day Laurel and Hardy that described themselves as "two clowns" who took 19 hours to make the 15-hour drive from Tulsa, Okla. The oddly matched pair, Brandon "Shortie" Smallwood and Demetrio "Biggie" Bargas, had the judges laughing from the get go, and Nigel admitted he didn't anybody who watched that and didn't enjoy it. Nigel said Brandon was the better technical dancer, but together they were a great act. Mary thanked them for their brief entertainment, and seemed to assume they wouldn't stick around, but Nigel and Mia teamed up to bring Biggie and Shortie back for the choreography, so they'd get another shot to prove themselves later.Sasha Mallory said she auditioned in an earlier season and made it to Vegas, but this time she felt more comfortable because her family was there. She did a contemporary number that seemed to suggest she was having a tiff with a chair. Mia said Sasha showed her strong technique and dance skill. Sasha cried as Mary praised her dancing, her emotions getting the best of her because of the support of her family. Nigel gave her a ticket to Vegas.Katie Muth and Ellie Soto drew high marks and tickets to Vegas in a short montage that led into an audition by Allison Becker, a hearing impaired 21-year-old dancer whose condition stemmed from a bout with spinal meningitis at 16 months old. The judges were captivated. Nigel told her she had beautiful movement and her face was beautiful, but her technique was not as good as he'd like it. He said if it wasn't written on her sheet of paper that she was hearing impaired, he would never have guessed it. Mary was moved to tears when she talked about her deaf cousin who gave up dancing at the same age Allison was, and she called Allison is an inspiration. Mia thanked Allison for sharing herself. Nigel asked Allison how she'd be if they asked her back for choreography and Allison quickly replied, "I'll be great." She'd be coming back later.For the second consecutive season, a same-sex dancing couple came out to show America there was a "world of same-sex dancers." Jacob Jason and Willem de Vries impressed the judges with their routine, which Nigel noted had "great lines." Last season, Nigel got in a bit of hot water after saying such dancers would alienate a good portion of the show's audience and later posting on Twitter that he was "not a fan of Brokeback Ballroom." He later apologized, calling his comments were "insensitive, ignorant and stupid." Mia was crying as Mary began giving her comments, saying they showed emotion and passion in a strong way. Mia celebrated their courage. Nigel acknowledged he got himself into trouble last season by asking a same-sex couple to dance with girls. This time, he just asked them to do the choreography.Some guy entertained the judges with a clownish little bouncing routine and they thanked him for coming and sent him on his way.At the end of the first day in Phoenix, 13 dancers took on Latin Ballroom choreography. It was too much for Demitrio "Biggie" Bargas, who quit before the routine even began. His friend Brandon went through the choreography, but failed to get a ticket to Vegas. Allison, the hearing-impaired dancer, made it through, along with Jacob and Willem.The judges came back for Day 2 in Phoenix and things got weird quickly. Jarvis Johnson was "so excited" that he told us that no less than a dozen times, and squealed more than a couple of times. His routine was certainly full of energy, and he literally danced his shoes right off (on purpose, it seemed). Mary praised his personality and Mia loved when Jarvis danced out of his own shoes and "when you were smacking your own ass." Nigel said Jarvis was a great entertainer and was glad he took time to take the stage. Mia said no to choreography, but Mary said yes. Left to Nigel, he made a deal with Jarvis: "If you don't pick it up quickly, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Jarvis squealed again and Nigel said he'd see him later.Another odd couple -- a tall guy and a short girl in a tutu and tube socks (the girl, not the guy) -- kicked off a montage of the strange auditions Phoenix had to offer. Kelsey White, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer with long blonde hair who was right up the show's alley, nearly saved the day. Nigel asked Kelsey if she'd ever had aliens kidnap her and she said, "Once." Nigel said he'd had it with the desert's weirdness and walked off, shouting, "Yes to choreography." Mia and Mary agreed and decided to send Kelsey to choreography.Jonathan "Legacy" Perez wowed the judges with his breakdancing skills and Nigel said that what Jonathan did was hugely exciting. Mary said she enjoyed it and loved that Jonathan danced with such confidence. Mia said she'd heard about how good he was, then she called him "stupid." (Don't worry, it was a compliment).The remaining dancers worked on the group choreography and Jarvis had an asthma attack that sent him home early. Kelsey, the one who was kidnapped by aliens only once, was not going to be heading to Vegas.
S6.E3 ∙ Audition Show #3
The "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 6 auditions headed east to Boston on Wednesday night, where Nigel Lythgoe & Co. hoped they'd find America's new favorite dancer.A plaid-pants-and-bow-tie-wearing goofball named Teddy Tedholm was prepared to give the judges a "whimsical" (he provided the air quotes) dance that he said accurately portrayed his personality. At least we thought he was a goofball. His style was sort of a miming meets contemporary that the judges actually seemed to enjoy. Nigel called it a great performances and said there was "so many little musical games you were playing" that he could have a real chance in this competition. Mary Murphy said she couldn't decide whether Teddy was crazy or brilliant, then decided he was "crazy brilliant." Guest judge Tyce DiOrio called him "fantastic, awesome, brilliant" and Teddy was handed a ticket to Vegas.Jean Lloret, a street dancer who said he had no formal training but could do things a lot of people wish they could do -- yeah, he really said that -- proved it. Jean busted out of serious breakdancing moves that included some slow-motion handstands and twists that sent the judges and the crowd (of his competitors, mind you) wild. It remains to be seen whether Jean can handle other styles, but the judges didn't even hesitate to give him a ticket to Vegas -- without even making any comments.Kimara Wood, another high-flying Beantown boy, earned a ticket.Channing Cooke, an 18-year-old blond ice-cream-scooping gal who loved her day job, tried her hand at contemporary for the judges and they were entranced. The self-proclaimed tomboy made Nigel nervous with her initial moves, which were a bit basic. He said she had "a beautiful quality" to her work. Mary said she loved it, saying Channing was very athletic and also knew how to tone it down. Tyce simply said, "I love you, Channing." They asked her to come back for choreography.A really tall dude named Ryan Casey (he was 6-foot-8) said his height made him "stand out." He was actually quite a fleet-footed tap dancer. Nigel said there was times when Ryan looked gangly, but his feet moved well. Tyce suggested Ryan try to control his arms a bit. They asked him to return for choreography.Russell Ferguson was waiting to become the first crumper to make it to Vegas. Nigel called upon Lil C, calling Russell's routine "buck." He said that crumping, individually, was a little one-note and would like to see Russell try another style. Mary said she couldn't wait to see him try another style. Tyce called Russell one of his favorites in Boston. They asked him back for choreography.Brief interlude for a fart joke. Seriously. Tyce apparently let one rip, bringing tears to Mary's eyes and sending Nigel away from the judges' table for a moment.A big guy named Fabrizio "Breeze" Jenkins, stumbled during his routine but played it off nicely. He admitted it to Nigel afterward. Mary called it a lot of fun and Tyce agreed. He told "Breeze" that if he trained, he'd be better. Tyce said no choreography, but Nigel said yes. It was up to Mary, who gave Breeze a shot in choreography.Ice cream scooper Channing, crumper Russell, tall guy Ryan and big guy Breeze, along with 24 other dancers, returned for the choreography at the end of the first day. Breeze took himself out of it after rolling his ankle when he fell during his original audition.Tall guy Ryan didn't make it. Channing, Russell and eight other dancers were heading for the desert.Husband and wife duo Karen and Matthew Hauer might have provided a bit of foreshadowing when they said they'd be OK with things if one of them got through without the other. Mary called Karen a "hot tamale" and said they could dance and they "look like movie stars." Tyce agreed, and they were handed two tickets to Las Vegas, marking the first time a married couple made it through to the next round.Gene Bursten was convinced that the girls get "mesmerized" by his sex appeal. Wearing an open chested shirt with a huge collar. He looked like David Blaine on the dance floor. Mary told him he was hot, which only made his head bigger, but she said he had to learn to control his face. Tyce said Gene's eyebrows looked like they were going to pop off and fly into the crowd. He said the facial expressions were "desperate." Nigel praised him for his musicality. They asked him to return for choreography.Paul Magliato, 46, came out talking about his "movement invention" and dancing to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," which couldn't bode well. Nigel said it felt like Paul was ice skating and said he didn't know where to begin. Nigel reminded Paul he was too old for the competition. Nigel said it was "fun" and that was about as far as he wanted to go with his critique.A montage of Tyce's most outrageous reactions to the most outrages auditions led into the final audition in Boston. Kevin "K'Bez" Hunte had been waiting since his Season 3 audition to give the show another shot. Mary said it was good but not great. Nigel thought Kevin was very strong. Tyce challenged Kevin on his claim that he'd been training in contemporary, because Kevin didn't show any contemporary dance in his routine. The judges agreed to bring Kevin back for choreography, along with "sexy" Gene.Both guys made it through, along with 21 other dancers from Day 2.
S6.E4 ∙ Audition Show #4
After visiting the east and west, the "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 6 auditions headed south to Atlanta.Crump legend Lil C joined regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, and after some quick explanations of the rules, it was time to get started.Billy Bell practiced quite a bit, running down a list of the dance classes he takes the way Bubba listed types of shrimp preparations in "Forrest Gump." Nigel said he had great legs and technique, but gave him some pointers. Nigel said he was "a no for choreography," and Mary and Lil C agreed. A dejected Billy shook his head before Nigel said he was "a yes for Vegas" and handed him a ticket.Amber Jackson, 18, had graceful and precise body movement but Nigel criticized her for not looking at her audience (the judges) while she danced. He said she was a great dancer, but her "performance was (expletive bleeped)." Mary and Lil C agreed, with Lil C saying he hoped it was a "wake-up call." They gave her a pass to choreography and Nigel said "I will kick your ass" if she didn't perform in the choreography.A montage of more performance-lacking dancers followed, with Nigel ripping several of them.Travis Denison, 30, brought with him the experience of leading the University of Georgia fans in cheers for their football, and an audition for "The Wade Robson Project" on MTV. Dressed in a sweater vest over a shirt and tie, Nigel poked fun at Travis for his Adam Shankman-like style. But his dancing wasn't up to par and they sent him home.A pair of tremendous contemporary dancers, Jamal Jackson and Victor Smalley, were featured in separate auditions showing their "beautiful" moves.Anthony and Antwain Hart, a couple of familiar faces who auditioned in Season 4, were back. Nigel said it was good to see them back and they'd gotten better. Mary said they were "getting closer" and Lil C also acknowledged that they'd shown growth. Nigel said the judges should send them straight through to Vegas, but they should pick up choreography even though he was "pretty sure" they would get through to Vegas.The Hart Brothers and 35 others, including Amber Jackson, came back for choreography. Anthony appeared to enjoy the choreography, but Antwain struggled. Amber made it through as her personality showed a bit more in choreography. Anthony made it through. Nigel told Antwain he wasn't sure what was going on with him, and Antwain didn't make it. In the end, 14 dancers scored tickets to the next round.Day 2: The second day of auditions in Atlanta introduced Matt "Boogie Links" Pollard, who proclaimed himself, "single and ready to mingle," spent much of his time trying to pick up a date -- even hitting on Cat Deeley. The judges agreed to bring him back for choreography after he showed off some impressive arm movements. They wanted to see if he could do anything with his legs.Jessica Jensen explained that she'd had a rare form of cancer in her hand and ultimately faced a choice: "You can keep your hand and die, or you can lose your hand and live." Nigel thought her dancing was great and that she actually used the arm with the missing hand well. Mary said she was "amazing" and was "definitely an inspiration." Lil C said Jessica represented "passion, strength and acceptance, and that is what I get from you when you're dancing, and I couldn't ask for anything more from a dancer." The judges agreed to bring her back for choreography.Jonathan Bryant was convinced his solo was "dope" and that there was no reason why the judges shouldn't send him through. That's rarely a good sign. Lil C told Jonathan to control what he was doing with his moves. Mary said he had some talent and a lot of energy, but he was "funneling it in a wrong direction." He snapped back, saying he was "dope." Nigel told Jonathan that he had to grow and accept the feedback he was being given, but Nigel thought Jonathan was being rude and talking back. Nigel told Jonathan that this part would be cut out of the TV show because he'd be "bored stiff watching it." Oddly enough, we saw that on the TV show.Thomas Hamilton talked about being born a "crack baby" and being put through special education. He decided he had to get out of the toxic environment, and dancing was his chance. Thomas said he used to hate doing contemporary dance but changed his mind after taking a class with Mia Michaels. Nigel told him to be careful not to go too far into "praise dancing" because it becomes insular when he reaches that point. Mary loved his talent and the judges brought him back for choreography.Popper Boogie Links and cancer survivor Jessica Jensen were also among the dancers who returned for choreography. Boogie Links was asked to leave and even he admitted that "my salsa was more like a guacamole."Jessica was thanked for her hard work, but she failed to come through during the choreography. Thomas "had moments," Nigel said, but the judges ultimately decided to send him to Vegas, along with seven other dancers from the second day.
S6.E5 ∙ Audition Show #5
The "So You Think You Can Dance" auditions went deeper into the South on Wednesday night, heading to New Orleans for the first time in the show's six seasons.Head judge Nigel Lyhtgoe was absent from the auditions because he was back in the U.K. getting an honorary doctorate from the University of New Bedfordshire. (I thought it sounded fake when he missed a results show for that same trip last season, and my mind hasn't changed -- despite the fact that they showed a picture of him holding his degree standing next to a couple of old British guys).Guest judges Adam Shankman and Lil C joined Mary Murphy in The Big Easy.Shelby "Skip" Skipper came out with a mission: To put New Orleans Bounce Music on the map. A seemingly very tired Mary told "Skip" that she really liked it even though she'd never heard of New Orleans Bounce. Adam said he was a "New Orleans Bounce expert," and Mary chimed in with, "I heard you learned New Orleans Bounce last night!" She proceeded to crack up while Lil C turned away and Adam turned red. Adam then admitted he knew nothing about it, but said Skip's commitment, drive and dedication was unbelievable to watch. Lil C said his hat was off to Skip. Mary put on a sad face and told Skip it was "no to choreography." Instead, she handed him a ticket straight to Vegas.Jonathan Litzler thought his acrobatics and tricks would add to what he could do as a dancer in his audition. He wowed Mary quickly with a series of flips. Adam told Jonathan his tumbling did not go unnoticed, but praised him more on his strength and control. Lil C said it looked effortless. Mary just rolled out a list of positive adjectives, calling it "gorgeous, breathtaking, fabulous." He's going to Vegas.A montage of New Orleans' finest followed. Alison Nance was "a little firecracker," according to Mary. Calvin Turner Jr. "lived in the song," Lil C said. Edward Spots "completely lifted" Adam's day. All three went to Vegas.Eric Le Blanc said he downs six energy drinks a day and lets himself loose. He brought that "boom boom pow" to the stage and cracked Mary up from the start. Eric asked Mary to shout "Hot Tamale Train one time!" Her response, "Baby, you've got to deserve that." Lil C thanked Eric for showing his passion. Adam said no to choreography, but Mary and Lil C surprisingly put him through at the end of the day.Justin Kenney, a hip hop dancer, talked about getting into a bad car accident on his way to a hip hop show and how he was "really grateful" to be able to dance. He put on an impressive display of moves. Mary said he was really strong. Lil C was impressed that Justin started with the most challenging moves. Adam agreed and said Justin did "a great, great solo." They brought him back for choreography.Justin and the heavily caffeinated Eric Le Blanc joined 17 other dancers in choreography. Eric stumbled and was sent home. Lil C said the judges were taking a "huge gamble" on sending him through. Justin joined a total of 12 dancers heading to Vegas.Day 2: Kimalee Piedad competed in the "theater arts" division of ballroom, saying it was kind of like ice dancing, except there's no ice and no skates. She auditioned with a partner, but he wasn't competing because he said he wanted to focus solely on helping her. They showed a variety of intense lifts. Mary praised Kimalee's passion and leg lines. Lil C said she did very interesting lifts and called it "visually informative." Adam said yes to choreography, but Mary and Lil C decided to put Kimalee straight through to Vegas.Micah Mixon said he used to be nothing but trouble until he had some kind of "enlightenment," and dedicated himself to dancing. Mary said there were "some pretty good moves" in his routine and was impressed that he was not professionally trained. Adam and Lil C agreed and put him through to choreography.A montage of really bad dancers led into Mary's Rules of what not to do in an audition:1. Hats pulled down over your eyes.2. Reaching out to nowhere.3. Self worship (rubbing parts of your body ways too many times.")4. Men's booty shaking.Jakob Karr hoped to bring the judges things they did want to see and put on an impressive display of contemporary dance. Mary said he "lit up the stage." Adam said Jakob "freakin' rocked." Lil C called him "phenomenal" and said he was amazed before the judges handed him a ticket to Vegas.Diana Drexler went to the audition and left her ailing grandfather behind, only to learn that he passed away the day before the audition. She said her routine was a perfect way to honor him. "Before it was a dance, and now it has a story," she said. Diana began crying almost immediately after her performance, but said she didn't want to be "that girl." Adam told Diana the judges were aware of what happened to her grandfather. She said her family just wanted her to bring her grandfather good news. Adam said she was strong for being able to go through with the audition. He said he didn't think he could've done it. She went through to choreography.Diana and Micah joined many others in choreography. Micah struggled and Diana looked more comfortable. Micah didn't continue, but the judges encouraged him to keep up with his dancing. Diana made it to Vegas, along with 17 other dancers from Day 2.
S6.E6 ∙ Audition Show #6
With the bar set "impossibly high," according to host Cat Deeley, another round of hopefuls auditioned for the sixth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" on Tuesday night. This stop: Salt Lake City.Regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy were joined by choreographer extraordinaire, Mia Michaels.Bryan Boyer, a B Boy dancer with spray-painted red hair and a black streak through it, brought some high-energy moves, including a trademark flip on and over his head. Nigel said it was very strong and called Bryan one of the best hip-hop dancers the show has had. The others agreed and brought him back for choreography.Tristy Mirci -- who said she'd been in 25 car accidents in three years, though she'd never been the driver -- turned out to be a better car passenger than she was a dancer. Nigel assumed she'd never taken dance lessons, but she claimed she'd trained for three years. He said her teachers were taking her money under false pretenses. Tristy went home, and Cat pointed out that she fortunately lived within walking distance.Hayley Cloud was trying to overcome a herniated disc in her back and permanent nerve damage and prove that "anything is possible if you put your mind to it." She put on an impressive display of contemporary dance that left Mary saying, "Wow," and noting how strong, powerful and confident Hayley was while dancing. Mia noted that Hayley's background info said she could do a five-minute handstand, and challenged Hayley to take the judges' comments while doing the handstand. She did, but Mia let her off the hook quickly. NIgel loved Hayley's competitive spirit and the judges sent her through to Vegas.A montage of a couple of Salt Lake City's strongest dancers, Megan Kinney and Genise Ruidiaz, led into a longer string of female dancers who knocked the judges' socks off, even if they didn't get tickets to Vegas. But burlesque dancer Ariana Rowley vowed to show the judges "a little somethin'-somethin' they've never seen before." Ariana proceeded to strip to nearly nothing and Nigel asked to see it again. Mia said, "it was... it was... it was..." and couldn't finish. Nigel said he thought "it was absolutely fantastic." Mia said she would love to see Ariana in choreography and while Mary said no, Nigel said yes. So we'd see Ariana later.Iveta Lukosiute, a Lithuanian immigrant who was glad to have an opportunity for success in America, performed a ballroom routine with a partner who was not competing. Nigel called Iveta "vivacious," a word he said he didn't use much. Mary was floored and said "Season 6 is certainly shaping up and you are exquisite." Mary was nearly moved to tears as she said it didn't get any better for her. "She's got hot tamale written all over her, doesn't she?!" Mary said into Mia's ear as Mia praise Iveta.Bryan Boyer quit the choreography round before the practice was over because he couldn't get the steps. Ariana the burlesque dancer also struggled and was asked to go home. But 13 other dancers got their tickets to Vegas at the end of Day 1.Day 2: Pascal Nayigiziki, a self proclaimed crazy person, kicked off the second day with a bizarre series of gyrations that culminated in him ripping his T-shirt off. His convulsion-like moves had Mary mocking him. Nigel said he didn't understand what it was and said "there wasn't any dancing going on." Mary asked Pascal what he called his dance, saying, "You are just running around that stage having a conniption fit." He was asked to leave.Married couple Ashley and Ryan Di Lello impressed the judges with their ballroom routine, overall. Mary loved Ryan's strength, but said that is sometimes seemed a bit fake from Ashley, who she said lacked a bit of chemistry with her own husband. Mia agreed, saying there was "a missing link" to the connection she had with Ryan. Nigel agreed with Mary and Mia said it was a bit of a "put-on performance." All three judges agreed to bring both dancers back for choreography, but it was an awkward wait as Ashley was reeling from the judges' criticism.Another couple auditioned together after having only practiced together for two weeks included Leigh Asay and Josh Murillo. Leigh had auditioned before and was excited to show the judges her improvement. At the end of her routine, Leigh realized she lost a toenail and was bleeding. She said the adrenaline was running and it didn't hurt. It did start to hurt after a while. Nigel asked Josh to come back for choreography, but said they were in a tough spot with Leigh. Nigel asked her if she could walk. He didn't want her to continue dancing, he wanted her to come over to the judges' table to get a ticket to Vegas.In choreography, Leigh's partner Josh didn't make it to Vegas. Ryan Di Lello, one half of the married couple, made it through to the next round. His wife Ashley was nearly left behind, but Nigel said she was moving on, as well. There were 19 other dancers that made it from Salt Lake City that advanced to Las Vegas, making 152 dancers total as the audition tour came to a close. Wednesday night's episode would be the first night in Las Vegas.
S6.E7 ∙ Las Vegas Callbacks
After touring the country and picking up talent from the north, south, east and west, the sixth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" finally settled in Las Vegas for the second round of the competition.A bunch of judges and choreographers were on hand as 152 hopefuls tried to prove themselves for a spot among the final 20 dancers. Mia Michaels, Debbie Allen, Tyce DiOrio, and Adam Shankman joined Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe for the big round.The first part of the process had each dancer take the stage alone in front of the judges.Nathan Trasoras, 18, was the first dancer we saw. The judges actually saw him last season, but he was too young for the competition, so Nigel gave him a ticket for this season.Contemporary dancer Ellenore Scott put on a memorable display that mixed technique with a bit of comedy and had the judges applauding.After the first 10 solos, the judges compared notes and sent two dancers home immediately.Allison Becker and Thomas Hamilton, whose stories of tribulations were featured earlier in the audition round, both failed to make the first cut.The "controversial" all-male ballroom dancing couple of Jacob Jason and Willem de Vries took the stage and danced together. Jacob wasn't asked to stay, but Willem was and was left to wonder where Jason went after he left without saying anything.After the first round in Vegas, 41 dancers were gone and 111 dancers were left to take on the next genre: hip hop.After an hour of rehearsal, dancer after dancer was overwhelmed by the hip-hop round. Early favorite Ryan Kasprzak, the brother of last season's third-place finisher Evan Kasprzak, was out of his comfort zone in the hip-hop genre. The judges were split 3-3 on Ryan, which meant he was still in, but Nigel gave him a stern warning that he needed to work harder.Choreographer and "Dancing with the Stars" pro Louis Van Amstel came out to put the dancers through the ballroom ringer with a cha cha. And one of them walked away with a bloody nose. Contemporary dancer Billy Bell took a shot to face when his partner's elbow flew right into his face. Billy wasn't allowed back on stage until the bleeding stopped.Several dancers struggled with the complicated choreography, but crumper Russell Ferguson was "surprisingly comfortable," host Cat Deeley said. He was paired with ballroom specialist Iveta Lukosiute, who was helping him along. Adam Shankman specifically pointed out Russell and Iveta as the hottest couple in the first group as they easily moved on to the next round.Billy Bell's bleeding finally stopped, but would his limited practice time hurt him?The ballroom round continued, providing good news for some dancers and bad news for others. Nathan Trasoras from earlier Wednesday night moves on to the next round.Billy Bell was worried that he was in trouble because he didn't have a chance to practice the dance to music. B Boy "Legacy" was worried that his style wouldn't fit with learning group choreography.Mary told Legacy his dancing just wasn't good, but gave him a chance to "fight for his life" later in the day. Billy Bell made it through. A few more dancers got the call to fight for their lives with a solo and a last chance to make it through.Ryan Kasprzak was in trouble with hip-hop and was in the final ballroom group. He knew the pressure was on. Nigel asked Ryan to step forward and reminded him that he was given an extra chance, and he said there was no fluidity to his cha cha and, despite how much the judges loved Ryan's solo skills, he was not asked to move on. He called his brother Evan to make "the call I didn't want to make."By the end of the night, it was "fight for your life" time for contemporary dancer John Litzler and B Boy "Legacy," and probably a few others.After John danced, Nigel said he showed "no emotion whatsoever," and gave John a no. Mary and Adam both said yes. Debbie said there were other stronger dancers and said no. Mia said no, as well. It was down to Tyce, who said that dancing for your life "has to look like it's the last time you'll dance -- ever," and said no.The pressure was starting to get to "Legacy," who was in tears before his solo talking about how badly he wanted to prove himself. The judges seemed into it, and when he finished, Nigel told him that he had to "come up to a certain standard" in other dance genres. Nigel said yes, as did Tyce. Mia called Legacy something that had to be bleeped, and was smiling as she said she was annoyed that he stopped too much during his dancing. But she said yes, as did the rest of the judges.Teddy Tedholm and New Orleans bouncer Shelby Skipper were sent home by the end of the night.
S6.E8 ∙ Vegas Callbacks, Part 2
The first three rounds of Las Vegas week on "So You Think You Can Dance" whittled the finalists down to 77, but that number would still have to be cut down to 20 on Wednesday night's episode.The first round was a tough jazz routine that split the husband and wife team of Karen and Matthew Hauer, with Karen moving on and Matthew going home. Later, audition round favorites Iveta Lukosiute and Willem de Vries were sent packing.Molly Gray -- whose family "literally" packed their bags, put them in a car and drove to California -- was told she was dancing like a little girl and had to start dancing like a woman. "That's why we have 18-year-olds and not 16," Nigel said. "Because I want women here." After walking off the stage, Molly realized she'd hurt her foot badly. She went to the hospital.Russell Ferguson, the first crumper to make it to Vegas in the show's six-year history, was also in the group. Nigel questioned Russell's lack of formal training, but told him he was "doing so well" that he'd stick around a little.Down to 69 dancers, the remaining contestants were split into groups and asked to choreograph a routine they'd present to the judges the following morning.Russell Ferguson's group was up first and they were done by 11 p.m. -- the first group to call it a night. The judges were blown away by their Broadway routine and the entire group made it through.A montage of group routines followed, with a few dancers getting sent home.Molly Gray's group was the last to perform, and they had to start their rehearsals the night before without knowing for sure if Molly was going to be back. When she finally returned, she worried her team was babying her too much. The routine was choreographed around Molly's injury, and judge Mia Michaels called it "stupid." Nonetheless, the entire group made it through.The round everyone feared most -- contemporary dance with Mia Michaels -- was finally upon them. Mia went with what seemed like a softer, gentler approach, trying to let the dancers find their centers before getting started.Hip hop dancer Kevin Hunt was in the first contemporary group. The judges were impressed by his technique. Tyce DiOrio called him "amazing" and he went through to the next round. More hip hop dancers stuck around through the rest of the contemporary routine, but Legacy was the last one to go. Legacy was overwhelmed by the choreography. After the performance, Legacy got emotional and told Mia that her teaching made him a better dancer and made him want to learn contemporary. Mia agreed that he was better, and the judges kept him around.The next round was a Broadway routine choreographed by Tyce. Pauline Mata, who'd just missed the Top 20 last season, turned her ankle badly during rehearsal and went off to get medical attention.Ashley Di Lello, who barely made it to Vegas with her ballroom dancing husband Ryan, was in the last group on the Broadway stage. Nigel Lythgoe told Ashley that she probably improved the most out of anyone during Las Vegas week and she got all of the judges' votes to continue in the competition.The guys took on Broadway while the girls played around in the swimming pool. Ryan Di Lello was among the first group to perform and improvised tearing his shirt off -- which the judges loved and sent him through.Dominic Pearson, who was felled by an injury during the Vegas round in Season 4, was back and looking confident -- until he was told only two of the six judges wanted to keep him. He broke down in tears and Nigel told him he had to toughen up to make it in showbiz. Dominic went home. Six more guys were cast off.Pauline was under doctor's orders to stay off her injured ankle for two days and had no idea what the judges would tell her.The remaining dancers had one last chance to perform a solo for the judges, without an immediate critique. Billy Bell went first and drove Adam Shankman to tears. The rest of the group followed and each tried to hold his or her own. The night ended with a montage of the solos."The dancing is over," host Cat Deeley said. "Now all anyone can do is wait."Next week, the judges will announce the Top 20.
S6.E9 ∙ Vegas Callbacks, Part 3
After weeks of auditions all over the country, 152 finalists made it to Las Vegas in hopes of claiming a spot in the Top 20 on the sixth season of "So You Think You Can Dance." With just 38 left, Wednesday night's episode was all about naming the 10 guys and 10 girls who would continue on the journey toward being named America's favorite dancer.Host Cat Deeley first pulled Nathan Trasoras, the guy who was too young when he auditioned in Season 5 and was given a ticket to Vegas for Season 6 in advance. Mia Michaels told him that the show required maturity and called him "a baby" before telling him "we would like to be part of your journey" and told him he made it.A montage of Top 20 rejects followed before ballet dancer David Hovhannisyan was let loose.An extremely emotional and high-voiced Kathryn McCormick cried as she told the judges how much she'd opened herself up in Vegas and they mocked her crying before putting her through to the next Top 20.Contemporary dancer Channing Cooke was having trouble coping with the pressure of waiting for word for the judges. Nigel told her she was "exceptionally strong," but that she needs to work with her chemistry with her partners. She'll get a chance because she was unanimously voted into the Top 20.Ariana DeBose and Ellenore Scott were put through to the next round before a couple of new friends, Mollee Gray and Noelle Marsh, were worried about getting split up. They met as roommates in Vegas and cried while they wondered what the judges would do with each of them.But first, Billy Bell -- the guy who made Adam Shankman cry -- said he was just happy to come as far as he had. He said he was a student at Julliard and that the school was willing to let him out and hold his scholarship for a period of time. He'd need to make that call, because he'll be staying in L.A.A couple more guys were let go before Amber Jackson was told that her beautiful technique wasn't going to be enough to get her through to the next round.Russell Ferguson could only sit and wonder if he'd become the first crumper in the show's history to make it into the Top 20. Mia did the requisite misleading build-up to the good news and told Russell that he had a spot among the Top 10 guys.Tappers Bianca Revels, Phillip Attmore and Peter Sabasino waited to see if any of them would become the first tapper to make it to the Top 20. Bianca had been this far before. Nigel said he thought it was a very controversial decision before telling her she would be in the Top 20. Phillip went in next. He acknowledged that he got defensive during the Vegas round. The judges gave him a hard time about that before sending him back to the holding room with the news that he'd made it. That left Peter, who waited to see if three tappers would make it after five previous seasons managed to bring zero tappers into the Top 20. He made it.Another few good dancers were sent home, Victor Smalley went to face the judges. They had him shave his mohawk in Las Vegas and Adam Shankman said he was one of the "most talked about" and eventually told him he was moving on. Jakob Karr was going into the Top 20 with him.Mollee Gray, who was worried with her friend Noelle Marsh, finally went to learn her fate. Nigel again told Mollee that she still dances like a little girl, and that's why some of the judges said they didn't want her in the Top 20, but they were overruled and Mollee was in.Pauline Mata, whose injury prevented her from completing the Vegas round, made it into the Top 20 anyway. Noelle was up next and was reminded that she was cut in Season 5 before the judges told her she made it through this time. She immediately went back to the holding room and celebrated with her friend Mollee.Another group of dancers were given their walking papers before BBoy Jonathan "Legacy" Perez was told he was in the Top 20.With three girls left for two spots, Paula VanOppen took one of them.Four dancers -- all ballroom specialists -- were left waiting for the three last spots in the Top 20. Husband-and-wife couple Ryan and Ashleigh De Llelo were waiting to find out if they'd be split up. Ryan had gotten much more praise than Ashleigh throughout the process until the very end of Vegas week when Nigel told Ashleigh that she was possibly the most improved dancer of the entire group.Ryan went with fellow ballroomer Gene Bursten. Ryan got the final spot.Karen Hauer, whose husband already was sent home during the Vegas round, went into the judges' room with Ashleigh. Nigel said it came down to the fact that they needed 10 "good girls," so he told Karen he was "delighted" to say she would be in the Top 20. Ashleigh gave Karen a warm, congratulatory hug.They both cried as they walked back to the holding room. Karen burst through the curtains and announced and shouted, "I made it!" Ashleigh's husband Ryan began weeping a bit, assuming that Karen's good news meant bad news for Ashleigh. He was wrong.What none of them knew was that Paula VanOppen turned down her spot in the Top 20 because, as she tearfully told the judges, she'd been offered a contract to do a movie, which meant she couldn't do the show.That completed the Top 20:Channing CookeNathan TrasorasRussell FergusonKathryn McCormickBilly BellAriana DeBoseEllenore ScottJakob KarrBianca RevelsKevin HunteMollee GrayPhillip AttmoreNoelle MarshVictor SmalleyPauline MataPeter SabasinoKaren Hauer"Legacy" PerezRyan De LleloAshleigh De Llelo
S6.E10 ∙ Meet the Top 20 Dancers
After the rigorous audition process and the grueling callbacks in Las Vegas, the Top 20 contestants have the opportunity to perform for America without fear of elimination. Each of the top dancers will showcase their personal dance style and skills.
S6.E11 ∙ The Top 20 Perform
The Top 20 take the dance floor. The dancers will be assigned partners, and now it's time to see which couples have the chemistry to light up the dance floor and impress the judges.
S6.E12 ∙ The Top 18 Perform
The results were in the judges' hands for one more week on "So You Think You Can Dance" on Tuesday night as the remaining 18 dancers vied to continue their quest for the title of America's favorite dancer. Regular judges Adam Shankman, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe took their seats, but Paula Abdul's empty chair remained so.Nigel then gave an update and let viewers know that Billy Bell, the Top 20 contestants who had to drop out of the competition due to an injury, could re-enter next season at the point at the contestants are narrowed down to the top 100. Brandon Dumlao, the fill-in who took Billy's spot but was booted from the competition in the first Top 20 episode, will also be allowed to enter next season.Each couple was asked about the best and worst things about their partners.Noelle & Russell: Noelle said the best thing about Russell was his voice, an the worst was that he is always wearing sunglasses. Russell liked that Noelle was really funny, but the worst was that she couldn't stop getting injured. Choreographer Jamal Sims put together a hip hop routine that used tennis rackets as props. Adam warned the dancers not to let the choreographer dance them and said they did well, but he thought it was "overwhelming." Mary said Russell won the match, but noted that it was his style. She said she couldn't tell Noelle was fighting an injury and she "saw no real weakness" in her performance. Nigel said it was so fast that the pair didn't really get a hold of it. He said he wasn't sure Noelle's performance would be strong enough to get her through the week.Ashleigh & Jakob: Jakob said the worst thing about Ashleigh was that her long hair hates him and attacks him all the time. He said the best thing about her is that she sweats more than any girl he knows, which is fun because they slip and slide all over the place. Ashleigh said Jakob's sweat was the worst thing about him because it creates puddles on the dance floor, which can be dangerous. She said the best thing was when he imitates bad dancing, which she finds hilarious. They did a Viennese waltz by Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin that was intended to be a husband and wife's first dance together. Adam said they "can still do no wrong." He turned his critique on Tony and Meredith, saying the routine had too many lifts and that they included too many tricks in it. Mary said Jakob wasn't "absolutely perfect" and she expected more from him. She told Ashleigh she was wonderful and "man, oh man, you guys are getting closer all the time to the Top 10." Nigel said Jakob was a beautiful dancer and told Ashleigh that she's proving wrong anyone who didn't think she'd be able to cope in the competition.Bianca & Victor: Victor said the best thing about Bianca was that she was so loud, "like an alarm clock," and that the worst thing was that her hair changes all the time, so he doesn't know who she is from one day to the next. Bianca said the best thing about Victor is his laugh -- "it's like laughing vomit." The worst thing is that he always wears something bright. They pulled a Broadway routine by Tyce DiOrio, who selected music from "The Color Purple." It forced the couple to tap into their soulful sides. Adam said it's important for dancers to study dance and know what came before them. He wanted to see them "lose it -- and I was overly aware that you were dancing." He thought the point of this dance was for them to appear to be taken by the power of the music. Mary said it was really, really good, "but it didn't really go there, it just kind of lost it." Nigel agreed that the characters weren't strong enough. He said Victor danced it well, but "as a character, you really should've taken it somewhere else." He said it didn't sit very comfortably with either of them. He said he was disappointed with both of them.Mollee & Nathan: Nathan said the best thing about Mollee is that her personality is "big and bright," which helps pull him out of his shy shell. The worst thing is that she goes to the bathroom a lot, which take them away from their focus during rehearsal. She said the best thing about Nathan is that he's attractive. She said the worst thing is that he gets distracted easily. They performed the season's first Bollywood dance by choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan. Adam said they were "an exciting couple." He said Mollee was coming into her own. Mary shouted and said the beginning was great "and it just kept getting better." Nigel said it was fabulous and pointed out that they were the youngest couple in the competition and Mollee was maturing. He said Nathan was fantastic.Channing & Phillip: Phillip said his favorite thing about Channing was her eyes, which he can look in and get lost. The worst thing about her, he said, was that she could take him in a fight. Channing liked that Phillip always had a smile on his face, but the worst thing is that he talks a lot. They danced a samba by Tony & Meredith. Adam said he could see them struggling with the style, but Channing made some strides with her hip action. Mary agreed that they were struggling and she did see the party and celebration of the samba, and Phillip wasn't really helping Channing through the tricks and lifts. Nigel told Phillip he didn't use his tap dancing tools to make the dance work. He said Channing looked nervous going into the lifts. He said Channing at one point looked like a sack of potatoes going over Phillip's head -- but a beautiful sack of potatoes.Karen & Kevin: Karen said the best thing about Kevin was that he was the sweetest thing ever, but the worst was his hair -- it's long and takes him long to do it. Kevin said the best thing about Karen is that she's eye-catching. He said the worst thing is that the judges only seem to notice Karen when they share the stage. They got a hip-hop routine with Tabitha & Napoleon. Adam fell out of his chair after saying Karen's name. He said Karen "tore that up!" He said Kevin was fantastic, even though he was expected to be. He liked seeing Kevin enjoy the character, then fell out of his chair again. Mary said it was "hot, for sure." She said Karen was still on the Hot Tamale Train. Then she shouted at Kevin that he was phenomenal. Then she put Kevin on the Hot Tamale Train, with some gentle urging from Cat. Nigel he expected Kevin to be great, but said Karen was a real pleasure to watch because she moves parts of her body he didn't think could move. He said she had a personality that shines regardless of what she's doing, "and that is the mark of a true performer."Kathryn & Legacy: Kathryn said one of the best things about Legacy is that he can speak so many languages. The worst thing is his "cricket whistle," which he does when everything gets too quiet. Legacy said the best thing about Kathryn is that he can relate to her emotional and sentimental side, because he's the same way. The worst thing is that she kicks and elbows him at every rehearsal. Choreographer Stacey Tookey put together a contemporary routine. Adam thanked Stacey and praised her transformative powers that made Legacy look like a different dancer and Adam said he had no words to describe how proud he was of Legacy. He said Kathryn was bringing something so beautiful out in Legacy and he was doing the same for her. Mary also praised Legacy's growth and said it brings the hair up on her arms. She said she didn't remember someone growing as fast as Legacy. She told Kathryn she just keeps "nailing it every week." Nigel added his compliments to Stacey and said it reminded him of Mia Michaels. Nigel reiterated how Legacy had developed and he told people that Kathryn was proving some naysayers wrong.Pauline & Peter: After just one week together, Peter said the best thing about Pauline was that she was always taking pictures to document the whole experience. Her worst trait is her obsession with sneakers. Pauline said the best thing about Peter is that he's from a big family and has adopted the whole group as a family, but the worst thing is that he's not as much of a ladies' man as he thinks he is. They got a jazz routine from Wade Robson in which they played people who were supposed to be in Van Gogh's "Starry Night" painting, but were discarded and came back to haunt the artist. Adam said the piece might be controversial, but said the dancers were "a thousand percent committed." He praised especially Peter for buying into the character. Mary said they danced it really well, but "I just don't think it's going to take you anywhere." Nigel said he hoped it wouldn't take them anywhere and they'd stay on the show. Nigel told Peter to watch his stiff shoulders and suggested he open them up. He told Pauline it was the first time he'd seen her dance to her full extent and he thought she was great.Ellenore & Ryan: Ellenore said Ryan's most annoying trait is that he's always sipping on a protein shake or protein bar, but the best thing is that he's like her own personal bodyguard. Ryan loves Ellenore's quirky personality but the worst thing is that she's "not normal," which he finds kind of scary. They had to learn an Argentine tango with choreographers Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo. The performance included some dangerous lifts, but the biggest risk came when Ellenore's dress got caught in her heel and she powered through the performance flawlessly. The judges gave them a standing ovation. Adam said he was amazed she got through the dress-in-the-heel situation, but loved the couple's "laser-like" attention to each other throughout the dance. He also praised Ryan for being "strong" and "present" for Ellenore. Mary acknowledged that it can be so distracting for a dancer and Ellenore played right though it. She called Ellenore phenomenal. She said Ryan played the part and was totally there. She stood again and gave them a shout out. Nigel said he didn't think there was another couple on the show that could've done that dance any better.In the bottom: Nigel was asked to reveal the four dancers who were in the bottom and would have to solo for their lives. They were Noelle, Phillip, Victor and Bianca.Who's leaving: Nigel said neither Noelle or Bianca did as well as they could have during their performances. He said the decision was not unanimous and there was no question that Noelle danced for her life with her solo, and that's why she was staying in the competition. Bianca was out.Nigel abruptly asked Phillip to step forward and told him he was leaving -- meaning two tappers out of the three who made it to the Top 20 were gone.
S6.E13 ∙ The Top 16 Perform
The Top 16 dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance" were set to show America what they could do -- and for the first time in Season 6 the decision would fall to the viewers as to who should stay and who should go.Host Cat Deeley introduced the regular panel of judges, including Adam Shankman, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe, who proceeded to endlessly plug a Dizzy Feet Foundation performance that will happen at the Kodak Theater on Nov. 29. It will include the finalists from Season 5, some pros from "Dancing with the Stars," crews from "America's Best Dance Crew" and stars of the "Step Up" movies. Mary will also be performing with "SYTYCD" alum and "DWTS" pro Dmitry Chaplin. Each dancer on Tuesday would get to tell America something the audience should know about them.Karen & Kevin: Karen revealed that she and her husband, with whom she auditioned, got a divorce shortly after the audition. She said they'd been having problems and had "grown apart" before deciding to split. Kevin said he's performed in London, Italy and at the Great Wall of China. Choreographer Maria Torres put together a Hustle for the couple. Adam said he "just saw" Kevin for the first time in the competition and that they showed an incredible partnership. He said Karen performed "with such beautiful restraint." Mary said Karen was amazing and called her a "Hustle Queen." She said she was also surprised with how much attitude and performance Kevin gave (in a good way). She said they were both still on The Train. Nigel said Kevin's friends back home must be "absolutely shocked" by what Kevin's doing, but Nigel was "absolutely delighted." He told Kevin to not be so nervous doing the death spirals with Karen. Nigel reiterated what he's said in the past about Karen being primed to go a long way in the competition.Ashleigh & Jakob: Ashleigh said she is a "really big nerd" -- apparently because she went to college and had an internship with a Congressman in Washington, D.C. Jakob revealed that one of his best friends growing up was on the show last year. "She did pretty well," he said. "She won." It was Jeanine. Ashleigh & Jakob got a jazz routine by Mandy Moore, who gave them a cane to use as a prop. Adam said Ashleigh definitely belonged in the show. He said they did well in overcoming a slight malfunction with the cane. He also praised Jakob's strength and jumps. Mary said they were phenomenal and complimented Ashleigh on developing every week. She also said Jakob did a fabulous job. Nigel told Mandy that this routine lived up to the standard of her famous "table" routine from Season 2. Nigel said Ashleigh was representing ballroom dancers brilliantly. He also called Jakob an "absolutely stunning" dancer.Pauline & Peter: Peter shared that he volunteers teaching dance with an organization that helps special needs people in Philadelphia. Pauline said she eats a lot. New choreographers JT & Tomas gave them a quickstep -- also known as on this show as "the dance of death." Adam said it was smart to give a lot of story and characters, which overshadowed some of the technical missteps. Mary said she always expects a trainwreck with the quickstep, but said they pulled it off even though it "wasn't great." Nigel said it was "absolutely not" technically perfect. But did he care? "Absolutely not." He said it was a fabulous performance and "America votes for performances." He was pretty sure they weren't going anywhere. He also thanked JT & Tomas for giving the quickstep a story.Kathryn & Legacy: Kathryn shared that she feels most alive when she's helping people and talked about her mission trips abroad. Legacy said he was supposed to be a professional soccer player. Choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler put together a Broadway routine for the couple. Adam said he wasn't sure what Kathryn's character was supposed to be and wanted her to portray a more aggressive character. He called it another huge step for Legacy. Mary said it had the character and choreography, but was missing just a bit of chemistry. She said Kathryn might have been a bit overshadowed by Legacy, who she thinks is headed for the Top 10. Nigel said he was also disappointed with Kathryn and called her performance "a little childish." He said Legacy was an inspiration for his choreographers. Channing & Victor: Victor shared (complete with pictures) that he used to be a hardcore goth rocker. Channing said she used to race lawn mowers and she won a competition that got her a trip to Disney World and her picture in the paper. Choreographer Stacey Tookey gave them a contemporary routine about a toxic relationship. The new couple faced two levels of pressure: It was their first dance together and they're both contemporary dancers. Adam said the new partnership was going to reinvigorate both of them. Mary agreed that it was "a great new partnership" and they did a tremendous job. She said it didn't quite take her to the level where it touched her soul, but it was very good. Nigel said they had to be good. He said he wasn't emotionally carried away by either of them, but he was technically impressed. Ellenore & Ryan: Ellenore shared that she's six different ethnicities, calling herself a "big American mutt." Ryan said he's an extreme sports junkie and secretly wants to be an action superhero. Lil C gave them a hip hop routine that was about swagger and timing. Adam called Ryan "the most transformed dancer of the night." Mary said "it wasn't great, but it was good." She said it was a little sluggish and not quite synchronized at times. She said she wanted to scream for both of them, but couldn't based on that performance. Nigel said it really wasn't good at all. He said Ellenore was too sweet for the style and said there was "an awful lot missing" from it.Mollee & Nathan: Mollee said she was deaf in her left ear, a condition she's had since she was a baby. She got rid of a hearing aid because it messed up her balance. Nathan gave us all tremendous insight into his jet-skiing exploits. New choreographer Gustavo Vargas gave them a sexy salsa. Could the youngest couple in the competition handle the sensuality? Adam told the crowd to get ready to boo him and said they had bad luck drawing the salsa. He said the dance exposed all of their weaknesses. Mary said it wasn't sexified, it was "French fried." She said there were a lot of technical problems and neither of the dancers seemed comfortable. Nigel said it was a sobering night for many dancers on Tuesday and it didn't work for them. He said their chemistry, for the first time, was missing. Noelle & Russell: Noelle shared that she had a pretty big family (three sisters and a brother). She said her brother was an inspiration after overcoming a stroke. Russell said he was an artist and always wanted to be an artist and dancer. They got an Afro-jazz routine by Sean Cheesman. The high-energy routine brought the crowd to its feet. Adam joked that Noelle was the first person he'd think of when he thought "African princess." He said he had a fantastic time watching it. Mary paused for dramatic effect before saying, "That was crazy." Then she clarified it was "crazy good." She said they weren't just doing steps, she felt the whole thing. Then she put Russell on the Hot Tamale Train. Nigel said there is no question that Russell is the star of this season. At the end of the night, Nigel said Ryan and Ellenore are probably in the most danger. Mary said Nathan and Mollee were also in trouble, and Adam agreed.
S6.E14 ∙ Two of 16 Voted Off
The results was in the voters' hands for the first time on Season 6 of "So You Think You Can Dance" as the top 16 competitors would find out which two of them would see their journeys end Wednesday night.Nigel said it was probably for the best that the vote was left to America, because it might save the judges from having to make a couple of particular cuts. He wouldn't name names, but he was suggesting that the audience likely saved someone who might not deserve it.To the results: The first three couples to the stage included Ryan & Ellenore, who were ripped apart by Nigel, in particular, for a shaky hip hop routine. They landed in the bottom three. Adam said he wasn't surprised, but said he was excited to see their solos.Channing & Victor were up next. They turned in a quality contemporary routine, but Nigel was underwhelmed because they were both dancing in their specialty. Kathryn & Legacy's Broadway routine was missing a bit of chemistry, according to Mary Murphy, but Legacy floored the judges with his improvement and growth.The first of the two couples safe was Channing & Victor. That left Legacy & Kathryn standing on the stage when Cat Deeley asked them, "What are you still doing here?" Then she got all giddy while telling them they were safe.Later, Ashleigh & Jakob faced their fate. Their Mandy Moore jazz routine earned rave reviews from the judges, who called them "stunning" and "elegant" and "mature, but fiery." They were safe.Up next were Pauline & Peter, whose quickstep earned high marks for performance, but some serious criticism for technical precision. Noelle & Russell were reminded of their African jazz routine and the judges' comments about their commitment to the characters and how good of a job they did. Nigel even called Russell "the star of this season." The second couple in danger was Pauline & Peter. Noelle & Russell were safe. Mary said she was "not really surprised" by the result, saying they didn't find the magic Tuesday night but would have another chance to find it with their solos.Finally, Karen & Kevin and Mollee & Nathan came to center stage to find out which pair was the third one in danger. Karen & Kevin's Hustle "absolutely delighted" Nigel, and Mary thought Karen was "amazing" and called her "a Hustle Queen." Mollee & Nathan, clear fan favorites, on the other hand, were shredded by the judges on Tuesday after their salsa. Mary said it was "French fried" and Adam said it exposed all of their weaknesses. Nigel told them, "Hopefully you've learned this week that you're not great at everything." Mollee & Nathan appeared stunned to learn they were safe. Karen & Kevin were in danger.Nigel said, "If we're basing it purely on dance, I think America's got it wrong." He said America protected Nathan & Mollee. Nigel said he was afraid Nathan would not be learning any lessons from this week, because after Nigel told them on Tuesday that they should have learned they weren't great at everything, Nathan replied that he thought they were "friggin' hot!" "I think it was an immature reply, and I think he needs to grow," Nigel said, prompting a chorus of boos. He said it was sad that he was saved because a lot of young ladies like him, "not because of his dancing."That meant the bottom three couples were Ellenore & Ryan, Pauline & Peter, and Karen & Kevin.Be our guest: Linda Celeste Sims, Clifton Brown, and Constance Stamatiou of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater paid a visit to give a rousing performance and plug their upcoming national tour.Who's going home? Nigel said the judges didn't think any of the girls gave a good enough solo. He said none of them lived up to the standard set by some of Season 5's dancers. He told Karen that some younger voters might be intimidated by her sexuality. Ellenore stepped forward next and Nigel told her to be careful not to lose her competitive edge while trying to be quirky. Nigel told Pauline she'd gotten by on her charisma more than her dancing, and he told her she was leaving the competition.Nigel said the judges were unanimous with both of their decisions. He told Ryan that his backflip ending in his solo was weak and compared him to Ade from Season 5. He next told Peter that he hadn't shown much star quality yet this season. Nigel told Kevin he was improving week after week "and we are going to invest in you a little longer." He asked Kevin to step back, then asked Peter to step forward again and told him that he, the third tap dancer in two weeks, was going home.
S6.E15 ∙ The Top 14 Perform
The Top 14 dancers were ready to shake their groove things on for America's vote Tuesday night on "So You Think You Can Dance." After a still-lengthy introduction -- but one free of the jarring tapping as the dancers were introduced -- host Cat Deeley welcomed the three regular judges: Adam Shankman, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.Each of the dancers would share their stories of how they got into dance, and that would likely include some embarrassing childhood videos and photos. In the interest of fairness, Cat said, we got a glimpse of a 9-year-old Nigel, a high-school-aged Mary and a very young Adam flexing his tiny muscles.Ashleigh & Jakob: Ashleigh said she had a lot of energy as a child and used dancing as an outlet. Jakob said he "got a little chunky" in his awkward years and decided to take a dance class. They couple got a hip-hop routine from Tabitha & Napoleon, which told the story of a guy who cheated on his girl. Nigel loved the routine and said Jakob was challenged each week and he's always come up big. Nigel said Jakob should continue into the Top 10. He added that Ashleigh had grown at a much faster rate than he expected. Mary said it was great and that this couple always hits it. Adam said Jakob was "about as sure a bet for the Top 10 as there ever was on this show." He then admitted he previously didn't believe in Ashleigh, but not thinks she's got a good shot at the Top 10, as well.Karen & Kevin: Karen said she was a quiet child growing up in Venezuela. She said she learned "the language of dance" by sitting back and watching her teachers and classmates. Kevin said he started dancing when he was 17, and one of his most memorable dance moments was a recent tribute to Michael Jackson. New choreographer Spencer Liff gave them a difficult Broadway routine. Nigel said the Broadway style requires humor and personality, and Karen didn't bring the humor. Then he told Kevin that Karen brought more humor than he did. Mary said she was sorry she had to agree. "It needed to be so much more," she said. Adam said it was amazing to watch Kevin even get through it and he agreed that Karen fared a bit better.Noelle & Russell: Russell said he was never shy about performing, singing or dancing. His home video included a cute little bit of him as a little kid mimicking Michael Jackson's famous "Billie Jean" routine. Noelle said she was a mischievous wild child and she accidentally smashed her face into a car windshield, resulting in the need for a half of a fake tooth in the front of her mouth. They got a foxtrot from choreographer Eddie Simon. The couple had pulled a foxtrot earlier in the season, but Russell had to dance it with choreographer Melanie Lapatin because Noelle was injured. Nigel said Russell had vastly improved over two weeks since the last time he danced the foxtrot. He also said Noelle was making herself be noticed. Mary said Russell made a tough dance look easy. She said Noelle looked elegant because she as flowing nicely. Adam said they understood their task and "met it, stepped up to it, and you were fantastic."Channing & Victor: Channing said she was energetic and adventurous as a child and her mom put her in dance class to get time away from her. Victor said he was a brat as a kid and would get lost in the store. They got a jazz routine from Tyce DiOrio. Nigel said it was the first time that Channing looked like she enjoyed her performance and that was why he enjoyed it. Nigel told Victor he is a "superb dancer" but still needs to prove he can grow. Mary agreed that Victor is consistent but still hasn't had "that star moment." Mary liked that Channing "just let it go." Adam said Channing was finding her way into the show and was loosening up. He said she'll do great if she continues to grow. Adam reiterated that Victor needs to grow to be "in it to win it."Kathryn & Legacy: Kathryn said she was a shy kid and her mom, who owned a dance studio, got her into dancing. Her first performance was with her mom. Legacy said that he was rebellious as a child. He first started dancing when his dad offered him $5 to dance at a house part. Choreographer Tony Meredith gave them a tense paso doble. Nigel said Kathryn danced with maturity that she was lacking a week earlier and that she was "absolutely magnificent." Nigel said he always sees Legacy practicing and it was that passion that would send him into the Top 10. Mary said Kathryn was smoking and was still in shock about how much Legacy had grown. Adam said Kathryn "killed it." Adam praised Legacy for developing his stamina on stage. He told Legacy he was an inspiration to breakdancers, because he was no longer a breakdancer, he was a dancer.Ellenore & Ryan: Ellenore said she was a sassy little girl, which she said she still has. Ryan said dancing was in his blood and he started dancing when he was 4 years old. His grandparents were professional ballroom dancers. They got a Travis Wall contemporary routine about a couple that has reconnected after 10 years. Nigel said they cemented their place for at least another week and said it was "certainly my favorite routine of the night." He said Ellenore was "one of the sharpest tools in the box" and that she becomes a different person with every routine. He told Ryan he was the best ballroom dancer that has ever done contemporary. Mary became overwhelmed by her emotions while tell Ryan he was an inspiration to young ballroom dancers, the she quoted her grandmother by saying they looked like they were "walking on tall cotton." Adam said their routine made him catch his breath.Mollee & Nathan: Nathan said he was the baby of the family and was "kind of a brat" -- this is information that would likely not be hard for Nigel to believe. Mollee said she was a "complete diva" as a little girl. They got a pop-jazz routine choreographed by Laurieann Gibson. Nigel said he could only compliment both dancers for how they dug deeper this week than last week. He said Mollee was one of the most committed dancers he's ever met. Nigel said he was going to stay on Nathan's back because he has great potential but has to make sure he continues to grow. Mary said it was great to have "the dream team" back. She said they were both strong and committed. Adam gave the dancers some advice on how to keep their place in the competition because he believed they were capable of making it really far.At the end of the night, all three judges agreed that Karen and Kevin were the couple in the most danger.
S6.E16 ∙ Two of 14 Voted Off
The Top 14 would become the dancing dozen by the end of Wednesday night's results episode. Judge Nigel Lythgoe said Tuesday night's performances signaled a wake-up call for some of the dancers who stepped up their game.The opening routine was choreographed by Wade Robson and Amanda Rodriguez and earned rave reviews from Adam Shankman.To the results: The first two couples hit center stage. First, Ashleigh & Jakob found out they were safe for another week. Next, Karen & Kevin -- the couple the judges unanimously said were in trouble this week -- were told they were in the bottom three. Adam said he wasn't surprised, but called Karen and Kevin two of the most poised and elegant dancers on the show and said they had to "slaughter" in their solos.Ellenore & Ryan earned high praise from the judges on Tuesday, with Adam saying they helped kick start the competition. They were safe.Noelle & Russell made the most of their second chance at the foxtrot of the season, at least in the judges' eyes. Channing & Victor flew high with a blackbird-inspired jazz routine that made Nigel notice that Channing finally let loose. Nonetheless, Channing & Victor fell into the bottom three. Noelle & Russell were safe for another week.Mollee & Nathan got back on the judges' collective good side, but there was a lot of talk of their potential. Kathryn & Legacy also earned high marks for their passionate paso doble. Apparently, the voters weren't ready to give Mollee & Nathan a pass for a second consecutive week and they landed in the bottom three. Nigel wondered if it was a backlash from last week, "when their salsa was so bad."That meant the bottom six dancers in danger were Karen, Kevin, Channing, Victor, Mollee and Nathan.Be our guest: Nakul Dev Mahajan brought his bollywood dance crew to the "So You Think You Can Dance" stage. Later, Orianthi, a guitarist who's venturing out on her own, performed her new song, "According to You."Back to the results: Nigel announced that the judges were unanimous on both decisions this week. He reminded the audience that the "dance for your life" solos are one last chance for the dancers to change the judges' minds about who should move on and who needs to go. With that, he noted that no one's solo changed their minds this week.Nigel told Mollee that she showed she could dance like a woman. Nigel turned his attention to Channing and Karen. He told Channing her technique was terrific, but her personality wasn't coming out in her dancing as much as the judges would like to see. He said Karen was, "without question, a performer," and that the judges think Karen is "a star." Therefore, Karen was staying and Channing was going home.Turning to the guys, Nigel told Nathan he learned a big lesson last week and that the judges were "delighted" to keep him in the competition.Nigel told Victor that his solo work was very strong, but told him not to pirouette so much. He told Kevin that the judges were looking for growth, and even though he was growing, but he still has a long way to go. Kevin was sent home.
S6.E17 ∙ The Top 12 Perform
12 remain. Each couple will be performing two dances. Starting next week the couples and dances will be picked at random.We start by hearing what each person will miss most about their performance partner.Ellenore says she'll miss Ryan's perfectionism and he'll miss her energetic, quirky personality. They'll be performing the Lindy hop choreographed by Carla Heiney. It has a lot of cartwheels, swingouts and lifts.Adam calls it a "fantastic start to the show." He says Ellenore gets better and better every week. Mary says it's a "stunning routine" and is glad the dance is included this season. Nigel says "I thought it was terrible...that we haven't had the Lindy hop on this season." He says it was "terrific to watch."Next up, Kathryn and Legacy. He says she's helped him with his body and stretching and she'll miss the presence he brings to every routine. Their first dance is a jazz piece by Sonya Tayeh. She says it's based on a man who can't contain himself whenever he sees his lady. It includes him chomping on her hand. They dance to "So Deep," by Hot Chip.Adam compliments Sonya on the routine, including how she used Legacy's b-boy skills. "If you keep dancing like this, you're going all the way," he says, adding that he's sorry to see the partnership break up.Mary particularly liked his entrance, crab walking onto stage. She says he was "outstanding." And she's a "marvel" to look at when she's dancing. She predicts they'll be in the top ten.Nigel says that was one of his favorite routines of the season and that Kathryn was very sexy. He thinks that Legacy has musical instincts that have never come out before. ("I was dancing," Legacy says.)Next up Victor and Karen talk about what they're looking forward to about working together. Victor's hoping to join her on the "hot tamale train." They're dancing the tango over secret lovers to "Montserrat" by Orequesta del Plata.Adam likes them as partners. He commends Victor's poise and stature. Mary says this was a huge surprise for her and she was impressed by the difficulty level. She says Karen is still on the train and Victor's picking up steam. Nigel likes their chemistry, but reminds Victor to watch his sway back to avoid looking like Donald Duck out there.On to Nathan and Mollee. He says he'll miss her laugh and he'll miss his weird noises and sayings. Jamal Sims choreographed their hip hop piece about the day that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.They're dancing to "Ring-A-Ling" by the Black Eyed Peas. Adam starts by checking on Mollee's hurt ankle and says he could see a little bit of the stress on her, but he thought they did a good job. Mary says it got better as it went along and some things could have been hit a little harder, but it was fun. Nigel starts by saying they're both good dancers but it seemed a little young. He's positive they'll both be in the top ten but they need to mature.Noelle and Russell She'll miss his laid back personality and he'll miss her affection and hugs which give him a better vibe. Tony Meridith and Melanie Lapatin choreographed their samba to "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira.Adam thinks the routine was a little too nice so it didn't get into the nasty party version of the dance. "It just needed to get a little more oogie...I enjoyed it, but it didn't get dirty enough for me."Mary says the performance level was great, but she was a little disappointed.Nigel also says the sensuality was missing and it was a little "clinical."Jakob and Ashleigh She says it's been easy working together and she'll miss him. Sonya choreographed an airy jazz routine. They're dancing to "Time Flies" by Lykke Li."That was so beautiful I don't know what to say right now," Adam says. He says he's sorry to see the partnership break up. He says it's a privilege to watch Jakob dance.Mary says their fun dancing together is evident.Nigel has to revise himself and say this is his favorite routine of the night. Ellenore and Ryan Spencer gave them a piece about the lures of fame and fortune and Broadway. They dance to "Razzle Dazzle" from "Chicago."Adam says they nailed it and it was full of character. He says Ryan was great but Ellenore was a "rock star."Mary calls Ellenore the "It" girl.Nigel calls it "phenomenal" and so far he wants to put six couples through.Legacy and Kathryn Their Viennese Waltz is supposed to show Legacy as a dancer being guided by his guardian angel, as choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereaux and France Mousseau.Adam notices that Legacy is crying. He says they're happy tears because he's able to show people there is hope and anybody can do it. "How can we be mean to you after that?" Nigel whines.Adam gives him a few minor tips, but says he did great. Mary tells them she definitely thinks they'll both be OK, even it wasn't the best Viennese Waltz because his feet were smacking against the stage. She says Kathryn is "perfection out there."Nigel says there were a lot of things going on there that weren't as good as what he thinks Legacy's capable of, but he tells Kathryn she's stolen the evening.Karen and Victor Perform a hip hop dance to "Moving Mountains" by Usher.Adam thinks the choreography didn't match the music, because the dancing was angrier than the music.Mary says the way they danced it was "OK" but it wasn't memorable.Nigel agrees, saying the tango was much better.Mollee and Nathan They picked a dance never done before on SYTYCD: the Can-Can. Tyce Diorio explains it originated in the 1830s in Paris as a dance for couples. Mollee says it's super tiring because you're never not moving.Adam says they're the perfect couple to introduce such a high energy dance to the show. Mary says Mollee's bad ankle didn't show at all and it was really enjoyable. Nigel mentions that the dance was originally performed by women not wearing any undies, but Mollee notes that she did.Noelle and Russell Tyce choreographed a contemporary dance for them, telling them to imagine painting on each other. Adam says they were "gorgeous" and they're not going anywhere. Mary says it was "really very special" and flowed. Nigel says they've left the audience something to remember them by. He commends Noelle for committing to everything and Russell for improving beyond his street dancer roots.Ashleigh and Jakob The Frenchies teach the pair cha-cha, which Ashleigh has done many times, but Jakob is totally new to.Adam says "this is Ashleigh's world and we're all just visiting." He calls them the couple of the night. Mary agrees and compliments Ashleigh on her great legs and use of them, but she couldn't have done it without Jakob. Nigel says "that may have been a cha-cha, but you are waltzing through to the top ten."Then it's recap time and we're done.
S6.E18 ∙ Two of 12 Voted Off
The top 12 perform a trippy hip hop routine by Tabitha and Napoleon to "What's a Girl Gotta Do?" by Basement Jaxx to open the show.Cat tells us three couples are safe and three will be in danger and the judges will decide which guy and which girl will be cut.Nigel wishes us all a Happy Thanksgiving, even though Brits don't do turkey day. Then he tells us from now on America takes over deciding who stays and who goes.Mary raves about the group they've had this season.Adam thinks new couples means the dancers have to create chemistry where none was. The choreographers will also be affected, but on the plus side the top 10 know they get to go on tour. He encourages brio and confidence.Cat welcomes out the first two couples: Karen and Victor and Ashleigh and Jakob.Cat announces the first couple in danger is Karen and Victor. Ashleigh and Jakob are in the top 10.Mary says they saw Karen and Jakob's tough night coming, but they've been growing. She tells Karen they think she's "exquisite." They'll be dancing solo later.Next out are Mollee and Nathan and Kathryn and Legacy. They did a hip hop routine, which Adam thought Nathan loved doing. Nigel thought it was young. Next, they did the can-can, which the judges loved.Kathryn and Legacy performed a Sonya jazz routine and Adam predicted they'd go all the way if they keep dancing like that. Next they did a Viennese waltz that Kathryn killed.The second couple in danger is Mollee and Nathan. Kathryn and Legacy are in the top 10.Adam thinks they weren't connecting with the audience last night and blames Mollee's injury. He thinks they'll grow with new partners because they're too young together. He warned them to watch what they say in their clip packages.Finally, Noelle and Russell and Ellenore and Ryan. Noelle and Russell performed a contemporary routine and a samba. Adam thought they were gorgeous and Mary called it "out of this world." Adam wanted his samba a little "dirtier."Ellenore and Ryan performed a Lindy Hop that Adam called "awesome" and a Broadway routine to "Razzle Dazzle." Adam called Ellenore a "rock star."In a bit of an upset, the final couple in danger is Ellenore and Ryan. Noelle and Russell are in the top 10.Nigel calls them being in the hot seat frustrating, but says the couples in the top are great, too. He calls Ryan the "best partner out of everybody on the show" and says Ellenore is "one of the best girls."We pause for a ballet performance by Paloma Herrera from the American Ballet Theater.Time for the solos.First up is Karen, performing hip hop to "She Wants to Move" from N.E.R.D. Then Victor to the Village Attack song from "Blood Diamond."Mollee dances hip hop with jazz moves and lots of tumbling. Then Nathan to "Going, Going, Gone" by Stars.Ellenore does jerky herky jazz routine followed by Ryan dancing to a Spanish song with lots of hips.The judges head off to discuss and Cat introduces the guest for the evening: Shakira performing "Give it Up to Me."The six in danger take the stage to hear their fates. Nigel announces they're unanimous in their decision for the girls. He asks Mollee to step forward and says for the first time this season they watched somebody fight for their place in the top 10. He says she has to keep that up if she sticks around.Then Ellenore (who gets a scream from the audience). He tells her the judges can't think of anything to tell her to improve.He says Karen's solo felt like she'd given up and he tells her it'll be her last. She's out. We watch her highlights, including Mary calling her a "hot tamale." Cat calls her gorgeous and says she has "star quality oozing out of every pore" as she says good-bye.On to the guys.Nigel tells the guys they're not unanimous on their decision.He starts out comparing Victor to Kelly Osborne on "Dancing with the Stars," saying he's grown as a person on the show.Then Ryan. He says not doing contemporary for his solo hurts him and he needs to work on that.Finally Nathan, who looks like he's about to puke. Nigel says Nathan came to them a brilliant dancer but they haven't seen him grow any. Nigel says if he had his way Nathan would be out, but instead, Victor is going home.We watch his highlights, including Nigel calling him a "superb" dancer.And we bid adieu to Karen and Victor.
S6.E19 ∙ The Top 10 Perform
We're down to the Top 10 on the sixth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" and for the first time, the decision on who stays and who goes will rest solely with the voters.The judges were happy about being off the hook in making the final elimination decisions for the rest of the season. Every dancer would perform a solo in addition to being matched with new partners. In a shorter than usual episode, we got straight to the dancing.Noelle & Ryan: Noelle and Ryan kicked off the night with what Cat Deeley called a "not safe for work" hip hop routine by Tabitha & Napoleon. Nigel apologized to Noelle for saying she wasn't sexy last week. He said she certainly was sexy this week. He told Ryan that his performance was "a little bit too strong" in that he didn't seem to be feeling the music. Mary praised the new couple for displaying great chemistry. She said Noelle seemed like a different dancer. She said Ryan "had it all going on." Adam told Noelle she was "smokin'." He said it was a "great moment" for Ryan, even if it wasn't his greatest.Ashleigh & Legacy: Ashleigh and Legacy did a high-tech, almost "Tron"-inspired contemporary routine that ended in Legacy holding a headstand (with an assist from Ashleigh), for several seconds. Nigel said they had been "physically abused" by their choreographer, Gary Stewart. It called it "an impossible style" to learn in just three days, but their effort was "absolutely fantastic." Mary said the headstand left a fantastic visual impact and said there were several great moments in the routine. Adam said it was extraordinary that they didn't look afraid. He also said the ending was the best the show has had in any season.Mollee: Before dancing her solo, Mollee talked about her road to the Top 10, which included dancing parts in the "High School Musical" series. She said she never expected to have made it to the Top 10.Russell: Krumper Russell talked about growing up in a rough neighborhood, where his dad used school and dancing to keep him off the street. His parents beamed with pride about their son's success on the show.Kathryn & Nathan: Kathryn and Nathan pulled a Broadway routine from Spencer Liff, to the music of Danny Kaye. Nigel said both dancers "found that style absolutely perfectly." He called it tremendous and said they got the style "and the smile" correct. He told Kathryn she's always been great, but her chemistry with Nathan was "a little isolated," but he noted that overall she was "absolutely terrific." Mary agreed and heaped some praise on Kathryn. She also said she didn't see any of the trouble she was expecting from Nathan. Adam said they did a "great job in giving us a beautiful history lesson." Adam said he was relieved that Nathan did well, because of the beating that he's taken from the judges this season.Noelle: Noelle said her family was her "Number 1 Fan Club." She said she nearly didn't graduate in the effort to get on the show during Season 5 and 6, but that the sacrifice had paid off now that she's in the Top 10.Ellenore & Jakob: The dreaded quickstep was in store for Ellenore and Jakob. The routine portrayed them in a quickstep dance competition in which they crowned themselves champions at the end. Did the judges agree? Nigel said it was a fun routine and thanked them for bringing tap back into the program (they did a bit of tapping). He said they were both wonderful. Mary said they deserved their prop trophy, which they hoisted at the end of the routine. She said Ellenore and Jakob handled the tough choreography that Tony & Melanie threw at them. Adam went on a bizarre and not particularly necessary explanation of how Ellenore and Jakob had previously been partners with the only married couple on the show, Ashleigh and Ryan. He said he'd been looking forward to Ellenore and Jakob's pairing and was glad to have seen it.Ryan: Ballroom dancer Ryan reminded us about his parents and grandparents being dancers, and the fact that he met his wife dancing. He called himself a born entertainer.Kathryn: Contemporary dancer Kathryn said she started dancing when she was 3 and her mom had a dance studio. She decided in high school that she wanted to dance for a living. Her mom called Kathryn her best friend and said Kathryn's move west was difficult, but was the best thing for her.Mollee & Russell: Mollee and Russell got a Mandy Moore jazz piece. Nigel said it was absolutely beautiful stuff and told Mollee she had grown tremendously in a week. He then said he was as proud of Russell as Russell dad was. Mary shouted that she loved this new partnership. She told Mollee that her passion was unbelievable. She also said Russell "is someone you can bank on in this competition. She said they were her favorite couple of the night. Adam said Russell was as fierce and hard-hitting of a krumper as he's seen, but said it was remarkable to see him switch gears and become a great partner. He told Mollee that this performance was her "coming-out party" and he couldn't be more proud of her.Nathan: Nathan said he grew up around dancing, but it clicked when he was 10 and he saw his brother perform. He said the experience has shown him that he should appreciate his family and wanted to use this time to "pay them back."Noelle & Ryan: For their second dance, Noelle and Ryan drew a JT and Tomas smooth waltz. Nigel said they looked like a prince and princess at the end of a Disney movie. He said they "mastered both" of their dances on the night -- hip hop and a smooth waltz. Mary agreed, saying Noelle was "breathtaking" and "elegant." She said Ryan absolutely owned it. Adam said he knew he was completely hypnotized by the performance when he found himself breathing with them. He called Noelle and Ryan "a power partnership."Ellenore: Ellenore told the story of growing up in the beach town of Santa Cruz, California, but moving her parents out to New York City so she could pursue dancing. She said they were broke after the move, but somehow they made it.Ashleigh & Legacy: Ashleigh and Legacy returned with a Dave Scott hip hop routine that had Legacy in a cape playing a vampire who was hunting Ashleigh. Nigel said he "didn't feel it." He said there wasn't enough dancing in it. He called out Dave Scott, the choreographer, and said he didn't think there was enough musicality in it. Mary agreed and said, "this just didn't work for you." Adam piled on and said it just wasn't challenging enough for them at this stage of the competition.Kathryn & Nathan: The couple returned with a rumba by Tony & Melanie to Aretha Franklin's "Walk on By." Nigel said they failed to present the chemistry between them because Nathan kept a sour face the whole time. He said he wanted to see a little more ballroom in that and, for the second consecutive routine, called out the choreographers for not giving the dancers enough to do. Mary agreed that the passion was not believable. She said Nathan had some awkward moments, but that Kathryn had one of the best moments of the entire routine by using her body. Adam pointed out that Nathan is a "very polarizing" contestant, saying that people really like him or really don't. He said Kathryn was dancing like she was competing. She had "an enormous amount of passion" and did a good job.Legacy: The B-Boy said he didn't start his dancing until he was a teenager. He saw "You Got Served" and moved from Miami to California with his friend, "Flea," to perform on the street in Santa Monica.Ellenore & Jakob: After trying their hand at the quickstep and getting big reviews, Ellenore and Jakob took on a Sonya Tayeh contemporary dance. The crowd roared before Nigel calmed everyone down so that he could shout, "Wow!" He said the dancers not only had chemistry with each other, but also with their choreographer. He suggested that Ellenore and Sonya were "probably from the same planet," and "to drag Jakob into your world is brilliant." Nigel said, "This really is my favorite routine of this season." Mary loved it and said Jakob was one of the best dancers in the competition. She also praised Ellenore, pointing out some great particular moves. Adam said the dance was "going to leave an indelible impression on the fans of this show forever."Ashleigh: Ballroom dancer Ashleigh told us about growing up in Utah, "a huge dancing state." She suffered a rare parasitic infection that knocked her out of dancing for years and said that continuing to perform on the show's stage is "like life being perfect."Mollee & Russell: For their second dance, Mollee and Russell took on a jive from Anya and Pasha. The crowd loved it and Nigel pointed out that he wouldn't have wanted to follow Ellenore and Jakob's outstanding routine. "I think you are the only couple, with this routine, that could've done that tonight," Nigel told Mollee and Russell. He said he wished they had been together from the start because they are really fun, and he hoped they would be in the competition for a long time. Mary welcomed Pasha and Anya back to the show and said the routine was "so much fun" and Mollee and Russell brought it to life. She said it was a great way to end the show. Adam agreed that he was "feeling it," and was feeling "so good about this pairing."Jakob: Jakob closed out the show's solos b talking about how much his dad tried to push him into sports, but that dancing was something he really loved. His mom got emotional talking about how hard he's worked to get this far.
S6.E20 ∙ Two of 10 Voted Off
Host Cat Deeley preemptively made the viewers feel guilty about who was going home Wednesday night on "So You Think You Can Dance." At the start of the show, she reminded us that for the first time all season, the decision was solely in the hands of the voters.With that, the Top 10 kicked off the night with a gritty, back-alley-style routine to Billy Joel's "Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me," choreographed by Tyce DiOrio.Head judge Nigel Lythgoe said that the pressure was off for the judges, but they would still be sad to see two dancers go. Mary Murphy agreed and said she was curious to see what America thought.To the results: Cat brought out the top five girls to go over the results. She first told Ellenore, who received rave reviews from the judges on Tuesday, that she was safe for at least another week. Mollee was the next to get the news that she, too, was safe.Noelle earned praise from the judges on Tuesday, but she was in the bottom two girls and would perform a solo later -- although it would have no bearing on whether she stayed or left.Ashleigh scored with the judges in her "action-packed" contemporary routine, but fell flat on a hip-hop performance. Kathryn gave what the judges called an "effortless" Broadway routine, but her rumba wasn't rockin'. After the vote, Kathryn was in trouble. She landed in the bottom two while Ashleigh moved into the Top 8.Cat turned next to the guys, and told Ryan that he was in the bottom two despite the fact that the judges loved his hip-hop routine and Adam called his smooth waltz "so perfect."Next up was Russell, who wowed the judges with his "mind-boggling transformation" and two tremendous routines. He was safe. Jakob was told that he was also safe, leaving Nathan and Legacy awaiting the rest of the news.Nathan's Broadway routine was something Nigel thought was perfect, but Mary felt he lacked passion in his rumba. Legacy scored big in a contemporary routine, but the judges through his fans might have to save Legacy after a flat hip-hop routine. The second guy in danger was Nathan, meaning Legacy was in the Top 8.Be our guest: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers put on a remarkable display of body control and breakdancing set to the smooth sounds of Coldplay's "Yellow," as played by a strings section. Snoop Dogg stopped by later.To the solos: Noelle showed some more skills with her contemporary solo and Adam said he thought she did great on Tuesday. Ryan was up next and repeated his solo from Tuesday night. Mary told him he was one of the best ballroom dancers the show has ever had.Kathryn was up next and Mary said she was "shocked" to see Kathryn in danger and said she had the beauty of Cyd Charisse and Ginger Rogers. Kathryn got a bit emotional when she said that being in the bottom might not be a bad thing, because it gave people another chance to see her solo. Nathan showed some more moves in his solo and Nigel was impressed, remarking that Nathan looked like he was fighting for a spot.Who's going home?: Cat brought Noelle and Kathryn to center stage and told them that Noelle would going home. She smiled and hugged Kathryn, who was safe for another week.The boys were next, as Ryan and Nathan slowly walked to center stage. Nathan said he was "not really" ready to hear the result, but Cat had to read them anyway. The guy with the fewest votes was Nathan. Ryan was safe for another week and went offstage to give his wife Ashleigh a big hug.
S6.E21 ∙ The Top Eight Perform
The field is thinning on "So You Think You Can Dance," and it was down to the Top 8 on Tuesday night as they vied to stay in the competition another week.Host Cat Deeley introduced "your top eight dancers," but there was one missing. Cat asked Ashleigh to come out and explain why she was missing from the intro. She said she dislocated her shoulder during rehearsal, and she insisted she was OK to perform, but the doctors wouldn't clear her. Her phone number would be available for fans to vote for her anyway.The dancing pairs were shuffled up again, and we were off to the races...Kathryn & Ryan: Kathryn said she wanted to "love every second" of the short time left of the season. Ryan said it would be special to make it to the finale because he might get to dance with his wife, Ashleigh. They landed a Doriana Sanchez disco routine that she called "a disco love story." They performed to a Samantha Ronson remix of Donna Summer's "Last Dance." Adam said Ryan proved that "real men can wear sequins," which was something he'd been saying for years. He told Kathryn he had "literally" watched her become a better dancer over the course of the show. Mary said Kathryn was peaking at the right time, and she said she enjoyed that Ryan just "let it go." Nigel didn't really agree with Adam and Mary. He said the style suited Kathryn, but he felt like Ryan was a little stiff.Mollee & Jakob: The new couple knew the stakes were high as the season wound to a close. They were given a Viennese waltz with Jason Gilkison. Adam said he "could've watched that for two more hours." He said it was a great coupling, choreographer and piece of music. He again praised Jakob and said Mollee was also peaking at the right time. Mary said there was "absolutely nothing ordinary" about their performance. She said Jakob made every part of it work, and told Mollee that "another light" was shining inside of her. Nigel said their routine took his breath away. He said "everything just seemed to fit together like a beautiful jigsaw puzzle" and added that they were both great.Ashleigh: Ashleigh was supposed to dance her solo and again said she felt "perfect," hinting that she really wanted to get out there and dance.Ellenore & Legacy: Ellenore wanted one last chance to show America what she could do by making it to the finale. She and Legacy got a Travis Wall contemporary routine in which they played hired assassins who had each other in their sights. Adam said it was "passionate," "exciting" and "awesome." Mary said, "It really wasn't that good," before pausing for effect and adding, "Of course it was!" Wow, she really had us going there for two seconds. She said Ellenore was dynamic and Legacy nailed it. Nigel loved that it was "so, so dangerous," and he was glad Travis pushed them as far as he did. He thought the routine could get Travis an Emmy nomination.Ashleigh & Russell: Russell and Ashleigh drew a Shane Sparks hip hop routine that was going to be straight from the street. Shane said during rehearsals that Ashleigh, who hailed from the streets of Utah, had become a different person. Russell performed the routine with Shane's assistant, Rachel. Adam said it had to be hard to be there without his partner and said he missed watching Ashleigh do hip hop. He told Russell he was "smokin' out there." Mary said she and everyone were falling in love with Russell. She said it was hard-hitting and on point. Nigel said Russell kept up with Shane's choreography and that he made a point of performing in a tough, hard-hitting routine.Kathryn & Ryan, Part 2: For their second routine, Kathryn and Ryan got a cha cha with Jason Gilkison. Ryan promised it was going to crank up the heat, and the crowd seemed to think it did by offering up a standing ovation. Adam said it was one of the best ballroom routines the show has had. He said they were "very connected," and told Kathryn she was "surging." He said Ryan was great, as well, and said it was a beautiful piece of teamwork. Mary said "the whole floor was on fire" and the routine was on fire, from beginning to end. She told Kathryn she made it look easier than it was, and said Kathryn was sexy. She said Ryan was a star. She gave them two tickets on the Hot Tamale Train. Nigel said Kathryn looked like a Latin ballroom dancer. He then told Ryan he was "absolutely perfect" in the cha cha and the two of them together "were magical."Mollee & Jakob, Part 2: Going from ballroom to Broadway, Mollee and Jakob got a routine from Joey Dowling in which they played a couple of con artists masterminding each other. Adam loved it and said they were great. He said he couldn't take his eyes off Mollee, despite the fact that he thinks Jakob is one of the best dancers the show has ever had. Mary said they were tremendous and made it look easy. Nigel said the routine pushed Mollee into the realm of being a professional dancer, and he said she should go to Broadway. He said they were outstanding for the second time.Ellenore & Legacy, Part 2: The couple landed a Tabitha & Napoleon hip hop routine in which they were portraying aliens. They wanted Ellenore to be more hip hop and Legacy to be more quirky. Ellenore was calling it strange and weird, which was saying something. Adam said it wasn't his favorite routine of the night and the dancing was just fine. Mary said the beginning was great, but it was like a movie that started well and didn't pay off. Nigel said he didn't want to criticize the choreography, but he had to. He said the choreography overrode the dancing and it turned out to be "style over substance."Ryan: After dancing his solo, Ryan interrupted Cat while she was reading his phone number for voting. He asked people to vote for Ashleigh because she'd worked so hard to get to this point and deserved a spot in the finale. He got emotional and the crowd cheered, and Cat asked him, "Are you trying to kill me here?"Ashleigh & Russell, Part 2: Nakul Dev Mahajan put together a raw Bollywood routine for Ashleigh and Russell. Ashleigh was unable to perform, so Russell did the routine with one of Nakul's assistants. Adam said Russell blew joy out of every pore and that should make people pick up the phone and vote for him. Mary gave Russell props for adjusting to everything that has happened with the last-minute partner switch. Mary also asked that people take into consideration the journey that Ashleigh has had on the show when they think about voting. Nigel said Russell had a magnetic quality that draws the viewer's eye. He praised Russell for not just Tuesday evening, but for everything he's done throughout the season.Judges' last words: Cat asked the judges for any last-minute advice for the voters and Adam said each of the remaining dancers had earned his or her place. He urged voters to pick up the phone for their favorites.Mary said that the votes mean so much for the dancers, so this would be a great time to pick up the phone and call. Nigel reminded voters not to assume their favorite is going to win.
S6.E22 ∙ Two of Eight Voted Off
The night opened with a high-energy contemporary routine choreographed by Sonya Tayeh that only featured seven dancers, meaning Ashleigh was out for the second consecutive night. The mystery remained as to whether Ashleigh would move on despite being unable to perform on Tuesday because of a dislocated shoulder.After a quick little feature to remind us that Samantha Ronson remixed some of Tuesday night's songs (and the opening number on Wednesday), it was time to get to the results.To the results: Russell, who received high marks from the judges for his hip hop and Bollywood routines on Tuesday, was up first. Russell was safely into next week's finale.Legacy contributed to what Nigel called a "dangerous" (in a good way) contemporary routine, but left the judges a bit disappointed with a hip hop routine. He'd never been in danger before, but found himself in the bottom two this week.That left Jakob and Ryan to wait and find out which of them was safe and which was in the bottom two. Jakob wowed the judges first with a Viennese waltz and again with a Broadway routine. Ryan, meanwhile, nailed a cha cha (earning a first-class ticket on the Hot Tamale Train) but was a bit stiff, according to Nigel, in his disco dance. The guy safely into the finale was Jakob, leaving Ryan in the bottom two with Legacy.The top four girls headed to center stage. Kathryn's results were up first. The judges loved her part of the disco she performed with Ryan and loved her even more when she danced the cha cha. Mary put her on the Hot Tamale Train and the judges agreed she was smokin' and sexy. She was in the bottom two last week, but she was safely into the finals this time.Ellenore was part of the Travis Wall contemporary routine that Nigel predicted could be nominated for an Emmy, but was also included in the weird hip hop performance that left the judges disappointed. She was in danger.Mollee and Ashleigh remained. Mollee danced the Viennese waltz with Jakob that had Mary and Nigel both gushing. Her Broadway routine caught Adam's eye and left Nigel saying that it turned her into a professional dancer. He suggested she get a job on Broadway. Ashleigh was injured and was under doctors' orders not to dance. Who was safe and who was in danger? Ashleigh was safe, and Mollee was in trouble.Adam was stunned and said that Mollee was at her best on Tuesday night and said her performances were some of the best overall of the season.Be our guest: Asia's No. 1 pop group, the Wonder Girls, made their American television debut with a performance of their song, "Nobody."Later, "American Idol" winner Kris Allen took the stage to sing his debut single, "Live Like We're Dying."The results: After more than 8 million votes, Ellenore got the final girls' spot in the finale, leaving Mollee behind. Mollee cried a lot, but thanked the judges for the "big impact" they've had on her life.With Ryan and Legacy waiting for word, it was Legacy who was eliminated. That meant Ryan was safely into the finale. The judges gave Legacy a standing ovation and he said he was glad America was watching.Your final six, America: Jakob, Russell, Ryan, Kathryn, Ashleigh and Ellenore.
S6.E23 ∙ The Top Six Perform
The epic background music. The close-ups on the contestants' faces. The dramatically backlit Cat Deeley , speaking slower and more intently than ever before. It could all mean just one thing: The finals of the sixth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" have arrived, and the final six dancers will be competing one last time to see who takes home the $250,000 grand prize and be named America's favorite dancer.Kathryn & Ryan: With just one hour, Cat got right to the action and introduced Kathryn and a shirtless Ryan, who performed a Jake Gilkison samba. The performance had a tribal feel to it and ended with a big finish as Ryan tossed Kathryn over his head and she landed on his back. Nigel loved it and called the big finish "stunning" and said he couldn't wait to see it again in slow motion. Mary Murphy said Ryan was at home in his style and said Kathryn had control and balance in her performance. Adam said "this show should now be called 'The Rise of Kathryn.'" He said Ryan was, "as always, a fantastic partner."Ellenore & Jakob: Ellenore and Jakob performed a jazzy, upbeat Broadway routine by Tyce DiOrio. Nigel noted that Tyce allowed Ellenore to be "Fosse-esque" and Jakob to be "Jakob-esque." He enjoyed it and said they were stronger dancers than anyone was in the past and they showed themselves off to their best. Mary said Ellenore was "smoldering" and "just as sexy as could be." She said Jakob was tremendous and added that "tonight, there was a little bit extra coming out there." Adam said the routine made the Broadway style current, elegant and hip. He said Ellenore never looked more beautiful, and called Jakob one of the most selfless partners he's seen.Ashleigh & Russell: Ashleigh and Russell pulled a Sonya Tayeh lyrical jazz routine that had them slowly tossing each other around the stage. Nigel asked Ashleigh to forgive him for the fact that he couldn't take his eyes off Russell. He said the greatest complement he could give Ashleigh was that she had great chemistry with the routine. Mary said Ashleigh was "absolutely drop-dead gorgeous tonight." Mary then started to get emotional when she talked about how special Russell has been this season. She said it was incredible to watch him dance like that. Adam talked more about Ashleigh's contribution to the routine and thanked her for playing the role of Russell's "guardian angel" throughout the routine.Ellenore & Ryan: To kick off the second round of dances, the partners were switched up a bit and Ellenore and Ryan were paired up with a Garry Stewart jazz routine. It had a very technical edge to it, which made Nigel uncomfortable with it, even though they did everything that was asked of them. Mary said she loved it because it was different and unique. She said she could see where Nigel was coming from, but the unique quality pulled her in. Adam said Ellenore played the part of Garry's muse and that Ryan complemented it nicely.Ashleigh & Jakob: For their second routines, Ashleigh was paired with Jakob and they danced a Jean-Marc Genereux foxtrot. Nigel immediately said something nice about Ashleigh, calling her fantastic. He also said the chemistry between the two of them had been fantastic all season. Nigel said it wasn't quite as strong as some of the other routines of the night, but "it was certainly worth you being on the show." Mary said Ashleigh was fantastic with her style and quality of movement. She said she was "so proud" of Jakob. Adam said Ashleigh was "totally lovely" and that they showed each other off beautifully, which is the point of the foxtrot.Ellenore & Russell: For her third routine, Ellenore was coupled with Russell, who was dancing for the second time. They pulled a fiery Jason Gilkison paso doble. Nigel's first question, after watching Russell perform shirtless for the second time: "Where are the shirts tonight?" Nigel pointed out some flaws in Russell's performance, but said he was still "very, very good." He did point out, however, that he was "nowhere near as fiery and passionate as Ellenore." Mary called Ellenore a "little Spanish vixen" and said she "really fired it up out there." She agreed that Russell didn't quite have the technique, but he made up for it in passion. Adam praised Russell for a couple of specific, controlled moves, and he said Ellenore did a great job of dancing from within.Kathryn & Jakob: Kathryn and Jakob got a Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson contemporary routine that brought the crowd and the judges to their feet. Nigel said, "You guys just stopped the show." He said Kathryn was his favorite girl and added, "you have been for many weeks." He said she was "absolutely stunning." Nigel told Jakob he now had to grow and join a company with dancers that are as good as he is, saying "you are outstandingly brilliant." Mary called it simply "one of the best performances I've ever seen." She said it was magical in that there was "no backstory, just beautiful, beautiful dancing." Adam called the routine "a game changer."Ashleigh & Ryan: For the first time since the auditions, married couple Ashleigh and Ryan got a chance to dance together with a Travis Wall contemporary routine. The crowd enjoyed it and Ryan and Ashleigh seemed to shed a bit of a tear when it was over. Nigel took on some critics who thought maybe Ashleigh only made it to the final because of the emotional support she got due to her injury last week. But, he said, they showed themselves very well. Nigel did note that Ashleigh still had better chemistry with Jakob than with Ryan. Mary said it's very rare for a married couple to have a moment like that on such a big stage, and it would be a tremendous memory. Adam asked Ashleigh how it felt, and Ashleigh said it was "perfect." Adam said he experienced their "incredible tenderness, and that was worth a lot."Kathryn & Russell: With the final performance of the evening, Kathryn and Russell took on a Tabitha & Napoleon hip hop routine that included some impressive moves and tricks. Nigel was happy he could call the season's final dance "great." He said Russell was tremendous in a style similar to his own, but noted that he couldn't believe Kathryn was "as gangster" as she was in the performance. Mary said they had her heart, and shouted twice. Adam said the beauty of the show was that Kathryn did contemporary and a samba before doing hip hop, and Russell did jazz and a paso doble before doing hip hop -- and they both killed them.
S6.E24 ∙ Finale: Winner Announced
The spotlights were burning bright and host Cat Deeley cranked up the drama, which meant that in just 119 minutes we'd know who won the sixth season of "So You Think You Can Dance" and would walk away with $250,000.Judges' choices: In a new twist on memory lane, the six-judge panel was asked to request encore performances of their favorite dances of the season.Lil C asked to see the group hip-hop routine from Legacy, Russell and Kevin. Adam Shankman wanted to see the magic that was created by choreographer Sonya Tayeh and dancer Ellenore, who was paired with Jakob in what Adam called his favorite routine.Nigel asked for a replay of the group tap routine performed by Bianca, Peter and Phillips. Mary put a little surprise into the format by asking Ashleigh and Ryan to perform a jive they choreographed on their own.Be our guest: Leona Lewis, who might actually be contractually obligated to appear on every reality show, stopped by to perform her new song from the movie, "Avatar," "I See You." The Groovaloos, who are starring in their own show in New York, also performed.Later, Adam Lambert came to the stage to perform his new single, "What Do You Want From Me?" He behaved himself.After the Top 3 were announced, Mary J. Blige paid a visit to perform her single, "I Am."For the final guest performance of the night, Jennifer Lopez did "Louboutins," and managed to stay on her feet. She was flanked by her favorite female dancers from this season of "So You Think You Can Dance," as well as her favorites from past seasons.Back to the judges' picks: Nigel got another pick, which must be the privilege of the executive producer, and decided to ask Kathryn and Jakob to redo their contemporary routine from Tuesday night.Tyce DiOrio wanted to see some Bollywood action again, asking Mollee and Nathan to perform their Bollywood routine.Later, Adam asked to see Ellenore and Legacy revisit their Travis Wall contemporary routine. Debbie Allen finally got a chance to make a choice, and opted for Noelle and Russell's African jazz routine. Because Russell was injured, a taped version of the original routine was shown.Lil C asked to see Ariana, Channing, Jakob and Nathan's group contemporary routine. Mary got another chance to make a choice, and asked for an encore of Tuesday night's hip hop routine by Kathryn and Russell. But what she got was another recording of the original because of Russell's injury.For the final visit down memory lane, Nigel asked to see the first group routine performed by the Top 20, choreographed by Wade Robson.To the results: In a bizarre moment of live TV, Cat's microphone cut out when she called for the Top 6 dancers to come onto the stage. There was an awkward moment of silence and no one came onto the stage. Then, three dancers walked to center stage, and when the remaining three dancers came out, Russell was in tears as he was helped on stage by Ryan. Russell said he'd "messed up" his leg." Cat wanted him to see a medic immediately, but first she had to reveal the first dancer who was out of the running for the title. It was Ryan.For the next round of results, Russell was sitting on a stool. Cat announced that the fifth-place dancer was Ashleigh. That meant the married couple was knocked off right off the bat.Finishing in fourth place this season was Ellenore. That left Jakob, Kathryn and Russell in the Top 3 and waiting to see which of them was going to leave with $250,000.Cat announced that the dancer in third place was Kathryn, which left Russell and Jakob in the running for the title.Before the final result was announced, Nigel said, "The true winners tonight are this program, dance, and America." He said America supported "a truly polished diamond" in Jakob, "and an unpolished diamond" in Russell. He said that regardless of the result, both dancers should be proud.Finally, Cat announced that "America's favorite dancer is ... Russell."Russell suddenly seemed unencumbered by his injury as he stormed around the stage in celebration. He thanked God, his family, his girlfriend and brought Kevin up on stage to rejoice with him.
S7.E2 ∙ Auditions #3 and #4
Season 7 auditions continue in Los Angeles at the Orpheum theater, with Nigel Lythgoe, Hi-Hat and Adam Shankman critiquing, and then on to Chicago. Stacey Tookey joins Nigel and Shankman in Chicago. Some contestants share their stories.
S7.E3 ∙ Auditions #5 and #6/Vegas Callbacks, Part 1
Auditions end in Dallas and Nashville. Then Las Vegas week begins.
S7.E4 ∙ Vegas Callbacks, Pt. 2
The most drastic final cut in "So You Think You Can Dance" history came together Tuesday night as Las Vegas Week culminated in the final 10 dancersFirst, though, Vegas Week continued with a Broadway theme and Ida -- who'd impressed the judges immensely in her audition, but faced some sharp criticism in Vegas -- was thinking about dropping out of the competition.In the first round of dancers, Adrian and Lauren wowed the judges with their fun take on the routine. Several other dancers seemed to impress the panel, but Ida went up to the stage alone to tell the judges she was withdrawing. Nigel didn't take the news well and said she only wanted to bow out because she was having trouble taking criticism. She insisted that wasn't the case, but Nigel said he'd never believe that.After Broadway, 47 dancers were still in the competition and they were asked to pick a CD at random in groups. Each group had to choreograph a routine to the music and perform it the following morning.The first group of dancers amazed the judges and Nigel said each of the five of them were on his "favorite" list.The second group wasn't so fortunate as they stayed up all night bickering. Tapper Melinda was in the group and was the only dancer who really stood out. Somehow, they all still made it through.Some 34 dancers were celebrating making it through, but the final group that was full of all-stars, including Billy Bell, were told by the judges that their performance was terrible and lacked heart. Judge Toni Redpath was furious after consulting with the rest of the judges, saying none of them deserved to move on but she'd been "talked in" to keeping them.The following round was contemporary, which was the specialty of most of the remaining dancers, but salsa dancer Cristina and ballroom dancer Giselle were worried. Cristina, though, made it through while surprising the judges with how well she adapted to the different style. Mary was brought to tears, though, when she had to tell Giselle that she wasn't going to make it to the next round. Another early favorite, Nicole with the big hair, was cut.Injured Anthony Burrell, Kent Boyd and Alex Wong made up one group in the contemporary round. Alex wasn't incredible, but the judges put him through for another round. Anthony proved himself to be "exquisite," in Nigel's words, and continued for another round. Nigel strung Kent along for a while before telling him he was "one of these people that I can see growing every single routine that you learn." Kent gave a passionate speech about how he didn't really think he could stack up against the other dancers, and Lil C broke down in tears as he told Kent that he certainly was good enough. He moved on in a group of 24 dancers that made it to the end of Vegas Week.Before they left Vegas, the dancers were treated to a lesson from legendary choreographer Grover Dale. The dancers had a chance to show the judges their stuff one last time, performing a solo before the final cuts would be made. Lauren Froderman once again wowed them with her routine, bringing more than half of the panel to its feet, as Adam said they were "in heaven" and Lil C called it "awesome."The 24 dancers left were each set to get a visit or phone call from one of the judges to let them know if they were in or out for the Top 10.Adrian Lee and Cristina Santana were the first to get visits. Toni teased Cristina through an agonizing wait before finally telling her she was in the Top 10. Mary visited Adrian and told him he didn't make the Top 10, but encouraged him to come back and try again.Nigel stayed back in Hollywood to deliver bad news over the phone to five more dancers. Nigel paid a visit to Lauren Froderman and told her all the reasons the judges thought they shouldn't choose her for the Top 10, then told her she "knocked them all down" and would be included in the small group of finalists.Mia Michaels visited Anthony Burrell, who said he needed something "like this" in his life, but she had to tell him he wasn't in the Top 10.Ashley Galvan waited for Lil C to show up and deliver some news. He told her she was his favorite from Vegas, but strung her along a bit longer before announcing she was in the Top 10.Nigel landed in Columbus, Ohio, where he first made some phone calls to tell some dancers they were out, and was on his way to Wapakoneta to visit Kent Boyd. Meanwhile, Tyce DiOrio made his way to Jose Ruiz's house in Miami. Jose was in.Mia went to visit tapper Melinda Sullivan and told her she was in. Alex Wong, meanwhile, awaited word from Tyce about his future on the show. Tyce told him there was concern that he didn't show enough passion and emotion in his performances, but he'll be getting more chances to prove himself because he's in.While Nigel continued to search for Wapakoneta, Mia paid a visit to Adechike Torbert to tell him he was in the Top 10. Nigel was pulled over by a cop on his way to Wapakoneta, and Tyce told Jocelyn she wasn't going to continue.With one spot left for a girl, Mary went to visit Alexie Agdeppa and Lil C went to see Ryan Ramirez. Mary asked Alexie if she'd try out again if she didn't make it. Alexie said she would, but Mary told her she wouldn't have to. Lil C, then, had to tell Ryan she didn't make it.Nigel finally made it to Kent's house in Wapakoneta, but asked to use the bathroom after his long drive. Nigel dragged out the process, in typical fashion, and told Kent he made it to Hollywood.Back in New York, Adam Shankman waited until the end of an Alvin Ailey show where Billy Bell and Robert Rolden which of them had earned the 10th spot. The 10th spot went to Robert, but there was a twist. A surprise 11th spot was saved for Billy.
S7.E5 ∙ Meet the Top 11
Now that the Top 11 are set, it was time for them to take the stage for real. Each dancer will be paired with a previous "So You Think You Can Dance" finalist, and the opening group dance set the tone quickly. The 11 all-stars came out to start a performance that was finished by the 11 finalists from this season. Then they closed out the routine as one big group.Host Cat Deeley reminded us that the all-stars were here to help this season, but would not be competing. Then she introduced us to the judging panel for the evening: regular judges Adam Shankman, Mia Michaels and Nigel Lythgoe. Thursday was all about getting to know the dancers and their abilities, and no voting was involved. Next week, viewers will vote on the dancers' performances.Lauren & Kent: For the first dance of the night, Mark (Season 5) and Kathryn (S6) joined Lauren and Kent in a Jazz number by Travis Wall. Adam heaped praise on everyone -- including Nigel and Mia. He said Travis was getting so good as a choreographer, and then he jumped out of his seat to compliment Lauren and Kent.Alexie & Melinda: After years of trying out for the show, Alexie told us she was a Laker Girl for two years. Melinda called herself an old soul. Allison (S2) and Lauren (S3) joined Alexie and Melinda for a Broadway routine choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. Nigel paid the best compliment he could give them, saying he couldn't distinguish between the competitors and the all-stars on the stage.Jose: Jose Ruiz, who touted his humility and confidence, was joined on stage by hip-hop all-stars Twitch and Comfort (S5) and Dominic (S3). Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed a routine that initiated him into the "SYTYCD" hip-hop family. Adam said he was "so glad" Jose was on the show.Cristina: Salsa dancer Cristina was joined by Season 3 all-stars Anya and Pasha. The three of them put on a dazzling and hot display of salsa choreographed by Jason Gilkison. Nigel enjoyed it and said Cristina had a tough job sharing the stage with what he called two of the best ballroom dancers in the world. He cautioned her to watch her "lazy feet," but otherwise thought she nailed it.Alex and Billy: The two comeback kids were joined by Ade (S5) in a contemporary routine choreographed by Mia Michaels, who explained that her dance was about "time and the turning of life." Mia said she loved it and it was "an honor" to have them dance her routine. She said Billy was a "freak of nature" and Alex is "a beast." Those were both compliments.Adechike, Robert &Ashley: Adechike described himself as the underdog of the competition but vowed to represent not only New York, but the entire east coast. Ashley said she loves to shop, watch football and described herself as a "huge nerd." Robert said he used to play baseball. All-stars Courtney (S4) and Neil (S3) joined them for a Sonya Tayeh jazz number. Sonya loved it and told Adechike he isn't an underdog.
S7.E6 ∙ Top 11 Perform
After all the auditions and the "introductory" episode, it was time to get down to business in the finals of "So You Think You Can Dance." The Top 11 were paired with all-stars from previous years.Billy: On a night when the dancers would be telling us something America doesn't already know about them, Billy said he loves to do do-it-yourself projects with his dad, a general contractor. He was paired with Lauren for a Tyce DiOrio Broadway routine to Kenny Loggins' "Footloose." Nigel liked it and said the long movements Tyce chose to use worked for Billy. Mia said she loved seeing Billy handle a dance that's different from what he's used to. Adam gave him some pointers to help him grow throughout the competition, including sticking with his character. Adam said Billy had to focus on what happens in between the dance steps.Cristina: Salsa dancer Cristina told us she once auditioned for a Spanish-language "American Idol"-style show. She didn't make it. Cristina was paired with Mark for a Sonya Tayeh jazz routine in which the dancers played the role of snakes. Nigel gave Cristina a good compliment by saying he was focused on her more than Mark. He said that the judges know she's good and she was now showing America she's good. Mia said Cristina did an awesome job holding her own on stage with Mark, who she called a genius of darkness in dancing. Adam said he was stunned because he was expecting a disaster when she saw that Cristina was given a Sonya Tayeh routine. He said he saw no trace of the salsa dancer and she "fully inhabited the character."Jose: The B-boy told us he practices yoga every morning. Jose scored by drawing all-star Comfort for a hip-hop routine by Tabitha and Napoleon. He was supposed to give a mean face while dancing to Ne-Yo's "Beautiful Monster." Nigel pointed out to us that breaking and hip-hop aren't the same thing and Jose proved he can handle different things. He called it outstanding. Mia said there was a little hesitation in Jose's performance of the choreography. Adam agreed with what Mia said and stressed that the show is all about improvement week to week. He told Jose to get to his power moves faster.Adechike: Adechike told us he went to the "Fame" school, where no less than Al Pacino and Tyce DiOrio attended. He drew a contemporary routine choreographed by Travis Wall and was paired with Kathryn. Nigel said the choreography was wonderful and Kathryn did a lot, but he didn't quite believe the sequence was Adechike's fantasy (the routine was about an office worker dozing off and having his dream lady come seduce him through dance). Mia said there was no sexual chemistry and Adechike "brought nothing but stiffness and strength." Adam said Adechike was a great partner, but he needed to give the extra stuff.Melinda: Tapper Melinda said the thing we don't know about her is that she's also an actress who worked on "As the World Turns" and she writes her own music. She drew a jive choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin, and was paired with Pasha. Nigel said there was no question Melinda was vivacious, but her legs were a bit wide on some kicks. He said the style didn't suit her and she was in danger of having to dance for her life on Thursday. Mia agreed and said there was a "lack of sexiness" in Melinda's style that she couldn't pinpoint. Adam said Melinda tried to use her acting prowess to cover up for her lack of technique.Alex: Alex said America didn't know that he loves to sing and play the piano. He was paired with Allison to do a contemporary routine by Sonya Tayeh. The crowd roared and Cat Deeley said the hairs on her arms were standing. Nigel said Alex had just set a new standard for "So You Think You Can Dance." He said that sometimes the focus is too much on the structure of dance rather than the poetry of dance, and Alex showed that both could be done. Mia said it was "the best, hands down, piece of work danced on the 'So You Think You Can Dance' stage in the world, to date." She said Alex was "sheer perfection and sheer genius." She also said Sonya was "sheer genius," as well. Adam said Alex and Allison made Sonya a different choreographer and said he was unbelievable.Alexie: Alexie said America doesn't know she's been on "Star Search" with a group of dancers called "The Hip-Hop Kids," and was actually judged by Adam Shankman on the show. She was paired with Twitch for a Tabitha & Napoleon sultry hip-hop routine that Alexie said would "hopefully not" be suitable for children. Nigel called Alexie a "cute little dancer" and told her to be careful it isn't too cutesy. Mia said Alexie danced "like a young, adorable girl" and said she had to step it up because "there was no coolness to it." Adam told Alexie to dance with the sensuality of a girl but with the power of a guy.Lauren: Lauren said she's passionate about working with Kindergartners. She drew a Mandy Moore jazz routine and was paired with Ade. In rehearsals she seemed to struggle with bring sexy. Nigel said it was well choreographed, but he found it sterile and that it lacked chemistry with Ade. Still, he thought she was secure in the competition. Mia said there was unused space "emotionally and character-wise" in her dancing. Adam told Lauren to worry less about presentation and more about her connection with her character and partner.Kent: The most famous resident Wapakoneta said he was voted homecoming king in his class, which included only 14 guys. He drew a cha cha by Tony and Meredith, and was paired with Anya. Nigel said the overriding factor in the whole routine was that he enjoyed it and said Kent reminded him of a young Paul Newman, but at one point in the routine he did a move that looked like Jessica Rabbit. Mia said Kent committed to everything and looked "kind of like a ballroom boy" but told him to remove that one move (to which Nigel referred) for the rest of his career. Adam said it was good, but looked a bit like a kid who got lost at the zoo and ended up dancing with the lions.Ashley: Ashley said that something America doesn't know about the goofy voices she does. She was paired with Neil for a Tyce DiOrio contemporary routine about love. Nigel said the dance had to be about transcending the steps and connecting with the emotions. He asked her if she's ever been in love and she said she thinks she is now. Mia said she couldn't tell which emotion was coming from Ashley, but it was there -- even if it wasn't coming across as loudly as she hoped.Robert: Robert said something America doesn't know about him is that he really wanted to be a professional baseball player, but dance took over. He drew a Sean Cheesman African jazz routine and was paired with Courtney. Nigel said he loved the way Robert dances and said he's a dark horse in the competition. Mia said there were so many things she loved about him, despite it being just the first live competition show of the season. Adam said it was "unbelievable" seeing Robert and Courtney together, and he called Robert one of the best contemporary dancers the show has ever had.
S7.E7 ∙ 1 of 11 Voted Off
The first results show of the seventh season of "So You Think You Can Dance" got off to a rocking start with a jazz routine choreographed by first-timer Tessandra Chavez.To the results: Host Cat Deeley called the first four contestants to the stage to their learn fates. She started with Alex, who was safe. Robert was also safe. Lauren and Kent were the two dancers remaining on the stage. After stringing them along a bit, Cat told Kent he was safe. Then she told Lauren she was safe, too.The next four dancers to get results came to the stage. Melinda was up first and she was in the bottom three, as Nigel predicted she might be. He wasn't happy to have been right, and he said he didn't think the routine helped. He told Melinda to bring some warmth, vulnerability and honesty to her performance.Billy was next, and he was safe. Ashley and Alexie were paired up next for their results. The second dancer in the bottom three was Alexie, meaning Ashley was safe. Mia said her performance on Wednesday didn't show the amount of work she'd put into the show.The final group of three dancers came on stage to learn their results. Jose was first, and he was safe, leaving Adechike and Cristina to vie for the final spot in the bottom three. Cristina was in the bottom three, leaving Adechike safe.That meant the entire bottom three was girls, who made up just five of the Top 11.Be our guest: While the bottom three prepared for their solos, Tony award nominees Karine Plantadit and Keith Roberts performed a routine from Twyla Tharp's "Come Fly Away" musical.Later, Usher paid a visit to perform his song, "OMG," and introduced the world premiere of his protege Justin Bieber's "Somebody to Love" music video.Back to the results: After dancing their solos, Melinda, Cristina and Alexie came together to find out who was going home. Nigel reiterated to Melinda his advice about getting some warmth into her dance, and told her to bring some fire. Next, he told Cristina she brought the fire, but not the steps. She was the one, the judges felt, was dancing for her life.Finally, Alexie stepped forward and Nigel told her she was "very contained" in her movement. He told her she was "somewhat juvenile" in her dance style even though she was the oldest of the girls. Then he told her she was the first dancer cut this season.
S7.E8 ∙ Top 10 Perform
The Top 10 dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance" took to the stage on Wednesday as judges Adam Shankman, Mia Michaels and Nigel Lythgoe took their seats.After last week's results show, the remaining 10 dancers chose their dance partners and styles for this week. Due to the random draw, Neil and Twitch were left without partners this week, but we might see them next week.The dancers were asked to share some childhood memories in their intro packages, and we started with Cristina.Cristina: She told us about a performance as a child when she was dressed as a flower and her outfit ripped and she cried. She drew a paso doble with Pasha, choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux and France. It was dramatic and full of throws and lifts. Nigel said it needed passion, power, fire and control, and Cristina brought it all. He was glad she didn't go home last week because otherwise we would have missed that routine. Mia said it "was everything" and called it "the perfect partnership." Adam jumped aboard the love train, calling it "mucho caliente."Adechike: He shared with us that his dad was a dancer and the coolest guy he knew, but had very little physical proof of his memories because of a fire that damaged most of his family's pictures. He drew a Mandy Moore contemporary routine with all-star Allison. Nigel said he saw a major improvement in the emotion Adechike brought to the performance. He advised him to make his dance moves second nature so that they wouldn't interrupt the emotional flow. Mia told Adechike to find some joy so that his smiles wouldn't come across as false. Adam agreed that Adechike is "technically so good," but he dances too much from his head and needs to dance more from his heart.Alex: As a youngster, Alex was a tap dancer and did jazz as a 7 year old. He was forced to include some ballet and said he was bored. He drew a Broadway routine choreographed by Tyce DiOrio in the style of Bob Fosse. He was paired with Lauren. Nigel told Alex to do more research on someone like Fosse when he's confronted with a style he doesn't know well. He said there were some nice things going on, but mostly in the classic dance style. Mia made some noises but said that some of the Fosse style didn't come through. Adam reminded Alex that the competition is not about his ability, but about his versatility and his growth. He said the dance had "a lot of flash and no smolder."Ashley: She told us about how her mom liked to dress her "girlie-girl" as a child, and she did her first competition when she was 4. She said she was able to do some things then that she can't do now. She drew a jazz routine with Mark, choreographed by Travis Wall. Nigel said he wanted to be careful that there was a separation between contemporary and jazz. He said he wanted to see something different from Ashley, but this performance didn't do that. Mia said Ashley delivered and that she's still her favorite girl. Adam said he wanted to see more from Ashley in the in-between moments that the choreographer didn't give her.Billy: Growing up, as host Cat Deeley said, "on the mean streets of Palm Beach, Florida," Billy said he was a chubby baby and did dance routines in pleather outfits to the Backstreet Boys music. He drew a crumping routine choreographed by Lil C. He was paired with Comfort, who said Billy was struggling to tap into his mean side. Nigel said he hated the music, but acknowledged that it was probably the toughest "most alien" style Billy could have taken on. He said it's a "warrior" style and Billy didn't quite find the warrior in him. Mia said Billy "knocked on the warrior's door," but didn't walk through. She said it was awkward to watch. Adam called it "a failed experiment" after calling Billy one of the best dancers on the show.Robert: After telling us he wasn't that cool as a kid, Robert took on the Argentine tango with Anya, choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux and France. Cat said she didn't normally get chills from ballroom, but Robert's dance did. Nigel said that Robert, without question, played his role brilliantly and looked magnificent while doing great choreography. He called it "one of the best routines of the night." Mia said it didn't give her chills at all. She said she felt like Anya devoured Robert rather than the other way around. Adam refused to break the stalemate, saying he had one foot in both camps. He agreed with points that Nigel and Mia both made. He said Robert looked fabulous, but stressed out.Melinda: The tapper said that as a child she was quirky and different because her parents stressed the arts, music and dance. She recalled her very first performance at the age of 4, which was at the local community college but, to her, "it was Broadway." She drew a contemporary routine by Stacey Tookey that she said was about our relationship with Mother Earth, because we only have one shot. She was joined by Ade. Nigel praised Stacey's idea and he said Melinda was "absolutely tremendous." Mia loved the concept and the story and even though she had reservations about Melinda's costume, her moves were beautiful. Adam had little to add, other than to say she was fabulous.Jose: Jose talked about growing up playing sports and learning his B Boy style at the age of 13. He drew a Bollywood routine with Nakul Dev Mahajan. They had a long way to go as Jose didn't know anything about Bollywood and Nakul called Jose a "B Bopper." Jose was paired with Kathryn. Nigel remarked on how far out of Jose's comfort zone the dance was. He said he didn't quite get to India, but his performance was tremendous. Mia said Jose was "so wrong, but so right" and appreciated that he was tackling everything with a smile on his face. Adam said Jose would win the prize for "the brightest light" on the show if there was one. He said the dance was totally wrong, but he was "so fantastic" for it.Lauren: She told us she was really talkative and hyper as a kid, and she was all over the place in her first performance as a child. She drew a hip-hop by new choreographer Tessandra Chavez, with all-star Dominic. The dance was intended to convey a story about domestic abuse. Nigel said he believed the performance, but gave Lauren a technical note to give herself a stronger base. Mia said it worked "so much" for her and that she "felt" Lauren and Dominic so much, but she wanted to feel more of the abuse part. Adam said Lauren was so technically adept that there wasn't much to say on that front. He said he was glad she listened to what he told her last week.Kent: Kent lamented his huge head when he was a kid and said he always acted pretty wildly on stage. He drew a jazz routine by Tyce DiOrio, and was paired with Courtney in a routine that was supposed to be a sensual romp. He said he struggling in rehearsal with touching Courtney the way the dance demanded, but he was going to try to get used to it. Nigel noted that Kent's journey from Wapokoneta was moving very fast. He said he enjoyed the performance, but didn't think Kent had as much fun with it as he had with the cha cha last week. He said he thought Courtney would eat him alive. Mia said she didn't know how she felt about it, but told Kent he had to transform himself in each of his dances. Adam agreed.
S7.E9 ∙ 1 of 10 Voted Off
The top 10 contestants dance a group performance choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. Debi Nova performs with six of the All-Stars dancing backup. Bryan Gaynor and his crew "RemoteKontrol" also perform. One dancer is eliminated.
S7.E10 ∙ Top Nine Perform
The Top 9 dancers on "So You Think You Can Dance" were asked to reveal their inspirations this week while trying to remain in the competition. Each dancer would also perform a solo to help voters decide who to support.After last week's results show, the remaining dancers picked their partners and dance styles, the most notable of which was Alex's drawing of Twitch for a hip-hop routine.Adechike: Desmond Richardson was the dancer who inspired Adechike to become the dancer he wanted to be. He was partners with Lauren for a hip-hop routine choreographed by Dave Scott. Nigel said Dave brought some personality out of Adechike, along with his swagger and funk. "This is a different Adechike than I've seen so far in the competition," Nigel said. Mia called him "Mr. Personality" and said she was "happy to see that there was some sunshine in there." Adam was excited and gave Adechike a standing ovation.Ashley: Ashley said her inspiration was her dance teacher, who she loves. She drew a contemporary routine choreographed by newcomer Dee Caspary and was partnered with Ade. Nigel said Ashley developed so much with this routine and demonstrated fluidity, which, for him, is the essence of dance. He also praised Dee, saying we'd be seeing more of him if his choreography remained this good. Mia said it was like a purple wind and a hurricane and a summer breeze. Adam said Ashley was "breathtaking" and called it one of the best contemporary performances he's seen by a girl in the show's history.Robert: Robert said his mother was his biggest inspiration after having gone through a divorce, three miscarriages, two deaths of newborn children and breast cancer. He drew a Sonya Tayeh jazz number and was partnered with Courtney. Nigel said Sonya's choreography suited Robert just like it suited Mark. Mia suggested to Robert that he take ballet, which would take him from "amazing" to "great." She said his performance is not quite as grounded and solid as it could be. Adam said Robert was a great dancer, but gave him a suggestion to not jump down.Melinda: Melinda took another opportunity to tell us that Harold Cromer was her mentor and inspiration. She drew a salsa dance with Pasha, choreographed by Fabian Sanchez. Melinda escaped a snagged heel in her dress, but Nigel said he didn't feel the fluidity in her movement. He said she tended more step into a step into a step. He questioned whether she was feeling the "flow of music." Mia said Melinda danced as hard as she could, but she seemed at times like she had bricks on her legs and was thrown into a pool and trying to survive. She also said there were moments where she thought they made a mistake last week by letting Cristina go instead of Melinda. Adam said he felt the same way. He said her tenacity and fire could help her, but it might not be enough to get her through.Lauren: The 18-year-old said her student council advisor was her inspiration. She was paired with Neil for a Broadway routine choreographed by Joey Dowling. Lauren had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction when the strap of her dress fell off, nearly revealing at least one of her assets. Mia said it was a great piece and danced well, but she wanted more slinkiness and "when the dress broke, it all happened." She wanted Lauren to let go a little more. Adam told Lauren to think of herself as dancing through water in order to accomplish what Mia was asking.Billy: Legacy from Season 6 was one of Billy's biggest inspirations, according to Billy. They met in Season 6. Billy was paired with Kathryn for a Stacey Tookey contemporary piece. Nigel said Billy was such a brilliant dancer and soloist, but he still had to learn how to partner because he "didn't quite believe" the partnership. Mia agreed, saying that Billy sometimes got lost in the lines and perfection of the dance. Adam said Billy would "see it all on the playback," referring to the judges' perceived lack of connection from him.Jose: Jose revealed that he was inspired by Bruce Lee. He drew a Dmitry Chaplin samba and was partnered with Anya. He dropped her a few times during rehearsals, but she insisted she trusted him. Nigel said it was great to have Dmitry back and said he'd brought out the man in Jose. Nigel said Jose was "not the best dancer in this show," but has magic and charisma beyond most. Mia said she was completely baffled because even though Jose wasn't a great dancer but she didn't care to pick apartment individual sections.Kent: Kent said his older brother Jerry was his biggest inspiration. He pulled all-star Allison and choreographer Mandy Moore. Nigel decided to be a bit tough on Kent, and told him to hold back on his extras that were taking away from his performance. Still, he said Kent had something that most audience don't have. He said Kent was losing his partner because he was playing it up with the crowd too much. Mia agreed, saying Kent was getting caught up in the personality every Wednesday. Adam said Kent was one of the most hirable dancers on the show, but he has to watch that he doesn't overdo the personality bit.Alex: Alex said his inspiration was Edward Villella, a boxer turned dancer who made it alright for guys to dance in a masculine way. Alex drew a hip-hop routine with Twitch, choreographed by Tabitha & Napoleon. The routine was a bit of a play on Alex's ballet background and how he'd have to ditch it in order to perform hip-hop. The crowd loved it, the judges all stood in ovation, and the choreographers were going wild. Nigel called it the best routine Tabitha & Napoleon have ever done. He said it was all about Alex, a ballet dancer, doing the "most incredible hip-hop" routine he's seen and he predicted an Emmy nomination. Mia asked, "Who the hell are you?" She said Alex defied everything about the ballet world. She said he held his own alongside Twitch. Adam said, "This is your world and I am just visiting." He said Alex's performance made him proud to be on the show so he could witness that routine.
S7.E11 ∙ 1 of 9 Voted Off
The top 9 contestants dance a contemporary group performance choreographed by Jamel Gaines. Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis perform, as well as Ne-Yo. The dancers with the least viewer votes perform solos.
S7.E12 ∙ Top Eight Perform
The top 7 contestants, (Alex Wong was injured), perform twice, once with an All-Star dancer, then with a fellow contestant.
S7.E13 ∙ 1 of 8 Voted Off
Seven of the contestants, with AllStar Ade Obayomi, perform a Mia Michaels' contemporary piece. The original cast of "In The Heights" and Natasha Bedingfield perform. All Stars Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis dance the cha-cha. Alex Wong leaves due to injury.
S7.E14 ∙ Top Seven Perform
Top 6 perform. Ashley Galvan sits out due to injury. Alex Wong sends a post-op message from the hospital. First Tahitian and B-boy dance routines are performed.
S7.E15 ∙ 1 of 7 Voted Off
A group performance choreographed by Tyce Diorio, 2 young dancers from Mary Murphy's Champion Ballroom Academy and 2 dancers from the Alvin Ailey Dance Company perform. Musical guest is Christina Perri. Comfort and tWitch perform.
S7.E16 ∙ Top Six Perform
Top 5 dancers perform with an all-star, another contestant and solo. Billy Bell sits out due to injury. The first stepping routine on the show is performed.
S7.E17 ∙ None of 6 Voted Off
For the third consecutive week, we knew one of the bottom three on Thursday nights So You Think You Can Dance results before it even started. Because he didnt perform due to injury on Wednesday, Billy Bell was automatically in the bottom.All-stars combined with the top five for the opening number, a smooth jazz piece choreographed by Kelley Abbey. The panel of judges, including guest judge Kenny Ortega, were back. There was a brief tribute to Denise Jefferson, director at the Alvin Ailey School, who died this week.To the results: Host Cat Deeley got right to the action, calling all five finalists to the stage. Lauren was the first to hear the news -- or read -- that she was safe. (Rather than announce the verdict, Cat showed her the result on her cue card).Next was Kent, who was also safe. That left Adechike, Robert and Jose waiting to see which one of them was safe.Be our guest: Before getting any further into the results, Cat introduced a pair of dancers from the American Ballet Theatre, who performed a piece from Don Quixote. Later, Cat brought DJ Smart, a Season 7 Top 24 hopeful, to the stage. There was more talk about National Dance Day, including footage of people who sent in videos of themselves performing the hip-hop routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon. This weeks look back to the all-stars beginnings on the show focused on Lauren and Neil from Season 3, who returned to the stage to perform the Wade Robson routine they did that year. The final guest performance of the night came from Enrique Iglesias, who performed his song, I Like It, with Pitbull. Back to the results: The three guys remaining finally learned after another commercial break that Adechike was the one of them who was safe. That left Robert and Jose in the bottom three with Billy.After the solos, Nigel said the judges hadnt made up their minds, but had come to a conclusion.He asked Robert to step forward, and told him that a couple of the judges dont feel as if youre growing now. He next told Jose that hes also stopped growing, but, at the same time, he really was growing in his own area, but he needs to grow in other areas. He then told Billy that he set a precedent by taking the decision that he didnt want to dance even though the doctors had cleared him. Nigel then announced that the judges had come to the conclusion that none of them would go home this week, but two people would go home next week.
S7.E18 ∙ Top Six Perform
Top 6 contestants perform with an all-star, another contestant and a solo.
S7.E19 ∙ 2 of 6 Voted Off
A group performance, of contestants and all-stars, choreographed by Mia Michaels, as well as "Step Up 3D" dancers perform. Musical guests are Allison Iraheta, with Orianthi, and Christian TV. 2 dancers are eliminated from the competition.
S7.E20 ∙ Top Four Perform
The top 4 contestants dance a group performance and with two different all-stars. Clips of their life, before they auditioned for the show, are shown.
S7.E21 ∙ 1 of 4 Voted Off
All-stars perform a Dee Caspary routine. Musical guests are Janelle Monae and Flo Rida. Desmond Richardson performs a solo. The top 4 dance solos. Clips of the contestants at the premiere and after-party of "Step Up 3D" and at the Gatorade Performance Lab.
S7.E22 ∙ Top Three Perform
It's the finals for the remaining 3 contestants. The 3 finalists dance 4 times: with an all-star, with each of their fellow contestants, and a solo. The 1st Malevos fight routine is performed by Kent and Robert.
S7.E23 ∙ Finale: Winner Announced
The finale show opens with a hip-hop group performance. Encore performances of the judges' favorite routines. Musical guest: Black Gold. Guest performers: Manzari Brothers, Quest Crew, Charlie Bruce, and Lil' C with Russell Ferguson (season 6 winner). Winner announced.
S8.E1 ∙ Auditions #1 and #2: Atlanta and the Bay Area
"So You Think You Can Dance" is back and the first set of auditions are happening in Atlanta. Mary Murphy and Lil C join Nigel Lythgoe on the judges' panel in the Peach State, where we get started with Bianca Hinklerian, who says she dances Colombian salsa. She does some fast dancing with a young partner, Giovanni, and Nigel is impressed. He says they were dancing do fast, "It's like you've got ants in your pants.: Mary thinks it was fantastic and adds it's the fastest salsa she's ever seen. Lil C says that when the tempo is that fast he couldn't tell what was going on. Bianca goes on to choreography.Melanie Moore stuns the judges with her dancing and pulls the heartstrings with her sad story. But its her moves on stage that really wins everyone over, including Nigel, who says that if she gets to Vegas and it doesn't all work out, he will hunt her down. Mary simply says that in eight seasons, she "can't recall having so much fun." Lil C says that "Zeus himself would invites you to come dance on Olympus." She's on to Vegas. A couple of hip-hop dancers named Deon Lewsa Jr. and Damon Bellmon are mostly looking forward to hitting on some ladies. The crowd likes them, but for more comedic reasons, it seems. Nigel says there isn't anyone who wouldn't be entertained by their performance. Mary praises them for coming with a plan that included comedy. Lil C likes it, too, saying they brought authenticity. Nigel tells Deon he's going straight through to Vegas. They leave Damon hanging a bit before also giving him a ticket.That kicks off a string of dancers who move on straight Vegas. Nigel says it's "getting obnoxious" just how many people are making it. In all, 10 dancers in a row made it straight through. Marko Germar talks about how he was shot in the shoulder during a robbery and still has the bullet inside him. He says dance is his passion and that he wanted to come back from the experience "being a beast." Nigel says it was remarkable. Mary was amazed by his "lightning fast" moves. Lil C calls it a great performance, and they agree to send him to choreography, joining Bianca.In choreography, Bianca gets a green light, along with several others. Eleven more dancers were on their way, including Marko and his choreography partner (who was not named).The second day in Atlanta has a lot to live up to -- a historic number of Vegas tickets were handed out on Day 1. Kimalee Piedad performs with a partner on some modern technique, but he isn't competing. There are a lot of contortions and tricks to it, but the pair seems to leave the judges mesmerized. Mary says it was "absolutely spectacular."We get a montage of Lil C's wild prose, including the term, "oxymoronical" and telling someone he was "hard to ingest, but even harder to digest."John Palermo calls himself "White Chocolate," which usually means trouble. John tries his hand -- or feet -- at hip hop and Lil C doesn't look too pleased. Nigel calls it "very juvenile," and Mary asks him if he's ever seen the show. Lil C keeps the prose simple this time, saying, "No. no." John asks for a round of hugs, which he does get.Kyre Batiste brought his whole family, including his grandma, "Miss Mandy," who says she's a good dancer and a good judge of dancing. Nigel invites her to sit at the judges' table. Grandma tells Kyre he didn't use his eyes in the right way to win over the audience. She says, "You gotta bring it on!" Lil C disagrees with grandma and she takes off the belt to spank Lil C a bit. Mary says she didn't think it was great. Nigel says he was disappointed, but grandma gives a yes vote to choreography, so Kyre gets another shot.In choreography, Kyre is really the only one we're watching, and he doesn't make it Vegas. On to San Francisco (actually the Paramount Theater in Oakland), where Toni Redpath and Tyce DiOrio join Nigel. Modern dancer Amber Williams is a little nuts, but she shows off some impressive moves that get the crowd going and had Toni dropping her jaw. Tyce says Amber commands attention and her "body does some fantastic things." Toni is still pumped up and says Amber made her day. Nigel says Amber has "this little bit of magic." Timothy Joseph, a B-boy, vows to bring some "stuntman, high-flying kind of stuff." He wasn't kidding. His routine is packed with flips and tricks. Nigel says it was "absolutely stunning," but says he doesn't know if Timothy can do choreography. Toni says he has a great sense of character is "interested to see if you can do a Viennese waltz." Tyce says Timothy's full of muscle and strength. Toni says, "it was just tricks and that's not enough for me." Tyce and Nigel agree to send him to choreography. Isehia Moss says she used to be a stripper, "so that's where my booty popping comes from." She raced to the auditions after seeing a report on the news that they were happening. Nigel doesn't know what to say. Toni says she loves Ieshia, and Tyce agrees that he loves everything about her. She's going home, regardless.Marcos Prieto wears a bright shirt, but his moves are pretty dim. Paul Keelan appears to suffer convulsions on stage and gets a round of no votes. Danielle Ihle had her father abandon the family and left them homeless. Danielle's mom "had to do every single thing by herself." Her dramatic performance includes a good number of spins. Toni says she's a "great spinner" but "the dancing was nice." Tyce agrees that her strength is in her pirouettes, but he could get more from her. Nigel says "it's a shame, for me, that it was so angst-ridden," and it left him just wanting to enjoy the movement. Nigel says yes to choreography, but Tyce says no. Toni gives Danielle another chance. Ashley Rich shows off some incredible strength and flexibility, leaving Tyce asking, "Where did she come from?" Nigel says she was "absolutely beautiful." Toni compares watching Ashley dance to being cozy by the fireplace on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Tyce says he's a fan. Nigel sends her straight to Vegas, and the judges start singing, "You Light Up My Life" as Ashley has given them strength to carry on. And this leads into a string of good dancers, including some good Latin dancers that make Toni's day. D'on-que Addison gets emotional telling Cat "his story," which he says is in his performance. Nigel cuts the music, but D'on-que stays on his knees on stage for a while, pounding it with his fist and sobbing. Tyce wonders, "Where are we going with this?" Finally, Nigel tells D'on-que that being "that vulnerable" pushes the audience away. The judges say no and D'on-que says he accomplished what he went for, even though Toni says it "was a complete waste of time."In choreography, Timothy, the B-boy drops out because of a hurt knee. He says he didn't want to make it unfair to the "female" he was partnered with. Danielle makes the most of her second chance and earns a trip to Vegas.It's Day 2 in San Francisco, and another B-boy starts things off. Jeffrey McCann says he's been B-boying since he was 4 and was on his own at age 15. He wants to do something with his life rather than go back to a life of "hustling." The crowd roars its approval at his precise and technical moves. Tyce is blown away and just says, "Heck yeah, that was awesome!" Nigel says nothing and just sticks a ticket to Vegas on his forehead.Ryan Ramirez, who had Lil C in her house last season to personally deliver the news that she came up just short of making the finals, questioned whether to come back but decided to go for it. She says she's "found herself more as a dancer." Nigel loves it, calling it a "beautiful performance." Toni says that, "If there's such a thing as controlled abandon, that was it." Tyce says he can tell she's "worked." Her legs are strong. Nigel lets Ryan hang for a while, thinking she's only made it to choreography, before finally handing her a ticket to Vegas. Another run of dancers make it straight to Vegas.Levi "I Dummy" Allen introduces us to "turfing," a form of street dancing from Oakland, that wows Tyce and the rest of the judges. Nigel says some of the contortions might give him nightmares. Toni says it's like wathcing a feather floating around on stage, but it lacked some performance. Tyce loves it. Nigel says yes, too, but adds that he's worried the choreography is going to be tough for him. "I Dummy" joins 23 others in choreography. Nigel calls him "squiggly legs" after the performance and mentions that "I Dummy" just "didn't get it."
S8.E2 ∙ Auditions #3 and #4
We're in Salt Lake City for the next round of "So You Think You Can Dance" auditions (New York City will follow later in the two-hour episode). Robin Antin of The Pussycat Dolls joins Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe on the judges' panel in Utah, and we're off and running with the first thing everything thinks of when they think of Salt Lake City: stepping.Devon McCullough and Micah Clark get the party started with some stepping and clapping that sends the crowd into an uproar. Mary likes that they illustrate the diversity of dance that the show gets to highlight. They're on to choreography. Chyna Smith is obsessed with the show and is excited to meet Cat and to talk about all the former "SYTYCD" contestants she's danced with and has met. She's from "Pocatello, Idaho, where the potatoes grow." She puts on a sultry, contemporary routine that Nigel loves. Mary can't wait to see her grow and says she's "very exciting for this show." Robin says she'd put Chyna "at the top of her list" if she were casting for the Pussycat Dolls. Annie Gratton stands out in Salt Lake City because of her red hair (many of the other girls are blonde). Her fiery dancing makes her pop, too, and the judges take notice. Mary loves that Annie came out with determination and a plan, calling it an "amazing audition." Robin agrees, and Nigel says she was fiery. She says before her audition that she's never danced with her father, and Nigel asks him to join Annie on stage so he can witness their first dance together. Dad busts some wild moves to the Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" and everyone gets a big laugh. Annie's going to Vegas.We next get a montage of great lady dancers, much to the delight of one of the judges, but it isn't Nigel. It's Robin, who makes repeated references to wanting to include the girls in The Pussycat Dolls. Tadd Gadduang puts on some kind of stylized popping and locking and breakdancing routine that the crowd goes nuts over. He does much of it while in a handstand -- sometimes on just one hand. Mary calls him "an artist in what you do." Robin loves it and says he "knocked it out of the park." Nigel calls it "completely and utterly entertaining." He's on to Vegas. We get a montage of injuries, including a guy who explains to Cat that he had "bruised balls" ... on his feet, of course. Cat can't help but crack up at this. She completely loses it.Samantha Hiller tells a story about trying to push through mono and dancing too much and getting amnesia. She didn't know her name. She says she doesn't remember the show, but her friends tell her she loves it. Her mother cries as Samantha tells the judges about her condition. She says she's been dancing eight years. Nigel decides to poke fun at her condition after Samantha dances by asking her to dance. Mary thinks Samantha's story is extraordinary. Nigel loves her technique but she has to work on her elevation. She's on to choreography. After choreography, Samantha learns she has a lot to learn and won't be going to Vegas this time. Micah is also told he won't be moving on. Devon, though, gets dragged through thinking he was gone, too, but Nigel gives him a ticket. On Day 2 of the Salt Lake auditions, Nigel tells the dancers he wants to see their love of dance. Chase Thomas shows a whole lot more than passion -- he's wearing basically a pair of black boxer briefs. Short ones, at that. Chase's audition is as short as his, well, shorts, and the judges say they want to see more. Guess they'll have to wait until Vegas. Chase's success rolls into a montage of guys who rocked on Day 2, taking over where the girls left off on Day 1. And, here we go. It's time to bring in the crazy, and Brittany Starr comes on to say she's "the real Ringo Starr's" father. (She actually does look like him). She says the original Ringo Starr disappeared after John Lennon was shot. There's more to the story, but does it really matter? On to the dancing, which includes what Mary calls, "that old chicken move." That most adequately describes what Brittany is doing. Mary likes Brittany's spirit, but says she's "slightly delusional." She should keep dancing because she loves to, but she's not right for the show.They insist on "tying up" one last loose end, going to Brittany's house and interviewing her father, who really does insist he's Ringo Starr. This is actually more disturbing than entertaining, but it's on to New York City.In New York, Jason Gilkison joins Mary and Nigel and we're starting with Princess Lockerooo, whose real name is Samara Cohen, She puts on a display of what she calls "whacking," which involves a lot of hand and arm movements, some elements of popping and locking and a bit of martial arts for good measure. Nigel loves it. Mary calls her "the whacking diva." Jason was fascinated by the way she was able to capture the audience's attention. She's on to Vegas.Brandon Jones gets a huge cheer form the crowd before he even starts, and says he's going to do some contemporary lyrical dancing. Nigel stops Brandon before he gets too far into his routine, but it's for a good reason. Nigel says Brandon is "a joy to watch." Jason loves Brandon and says he enjoys seeing a strong male dancer with softness. Brandon starts to get emotional talking about having lost his father a few years ago. Mary tells him he'll be able to carry on and inspire other dancers. Nigel hands him a ticket. A montage of contemporary dancers naturally leads into an audition from crumper Brian Henry. He says his crump style is unique and original, and you won't find anyone else who dances like him unless he trains them to do it his way. Brian comes out by saying he's not Russell because he's a crumper. Mary asks about Lil C, and Brian says Lil C "brought it to the mainstream -- I'm taking it back. Mary seems impressed. Nigel says Brian's passion was "tremendous" and shows "how music and strength go together." Mary asks him to put on his shirt because she "won't be able to focus" on her critique. Before talking about his dancing, she tells Brian it's great to be cocky and confident, "but be careful when you knock other dancers that have come before you." She says his crumping was fantastic, and she wants to find out how far he'll take it. Jason says he wants to see Brian do choreography. We then get a montage of some more diverse types of dance, which leads into Mary Kate Sheehan's Irish step dancing. Nigel loves her bounce. She says she's won a bunch of championships and is top five in the nation and also ranked internationally. Mary says Mary Kate is "so powerful" and makes her "so proud to be Irish." Jason says it was "such a pleasure" to watch not only her movement across the stage but how effortless she made it look. Mary Kate is on to choreography.The afternoon in New York has taken a down turn until Virgil "Lil O" Gadson shows off some cool breakdancing, popping and locking. Nigel loves that Virgil isn't just a dancer he's "a performer, and they are the ones that do so well on this program." He thinks Virgil will do "very well on this program, too." Mary says America will fall in love with him. Jason thinks it was fantastic, too. Nigel gives him a ticket to Vegas. In choreography, crumper Brian and Irish dancer Mary Kate join the others. Nigel tells Mary Kate she did a good job and while the judges weren't unanimous, she's going to Vegas. Several others follow her to Vegas, including Brian. On Day 2, the show takes the spirit of Broadway with them down to Brooklyn and Jess LeProtto represents the Broadway vibe with some jazz style. Jess tells us before his audition that he needs to work on smiling more when he dances. He avoids it because he had braces for a long time. Nigel jumps on that and says he'd like to see Jess appear to be enjoying it more. Mary agrees, saying "everything was really good," but she's be standing up and screaming if she felt more from him. Jason says he loved it, but... he agrees "it didn't connect." He says halfway through, Jess brought it home. Jess gets through to choreography. Kristen Dobson puts on a Latin ballroom display complete with yellow frills that trail her every move. Jason says there were pluses and minuses. He likes her personality, but that she closed off when she danced together with her partner. Mary says she's "doing remarkable," especially considering she's only been doing ballroom for three years. They agree to send her to choreography. More ballroom dancers follow in a montage. Another montage comes next, with the focus on some good dancers who put the judges back in a good mood.Robert Taylor Jr. is the "the woo man," because he says, "Woo!" a lot. It's Robert's last year of eligibility. He puts it all out there, showing some precise and quick movements in a form of popping and locking. Nigel loves the personality he put into his dance. In choreography, Jess does enough to earn a ticket to Vegas. Ballroom dancer Kristen follows suit, along with 17 others.
S8.E4 ∙ Las Vegas Callbacks
What happens in Vegas will set the course for the rest of 20 dancers' lives as "So You Think You Can Dance" heads to the desert for the next round of auditions.There were 160 tickets handed out, but 140 dreams will end by the end of the week.Robin Antin, Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen, Tyce Diorio and Mary Murphy join Nigel Lythgoe on the judges' panel for the big week.The dancers will start with solos that Nigel warns will result in some elimination right away. Iveta Lukosiute, a ballroom dancer who's made it to Vegas three times now, dresses up as a sexy police officer in order to get Nigel and the crew's attention. Marlon Pelayo is wearing a unitard his mom made and his friend painted. He made an impression, but not the sort he wanted to make. More solos bring more standouts and after the first 15 are done, seven are gone, including Marlon. He gets a talking to from Debbie Allen, who tells him his outfit was too distracting. Iveta moves on.More dancers get the boot right away, but B-boy Wadi Jones tries to turn things around, and gets the judges excited. This kicks off a string of dancers who Cat says "remind the judges why they were excited about Season 8."Sasha and Natalia Mallory, who auditioned together with their modern-African style, decide to again perform together to close out the first round. Suddenly, just 114 dancers are left.Day 1 continues with a group hip-hop routine by Napoleon and Tabitha. We focus on Chyna Smith (who we first met in Salt Lake City). Meanwhile, Wadi Jones has developed severe cramps and pain in his legs. Chyna completely flubs the group routine, but gets a pass to the next round. The hip-hop performances just got worse, resulting in more eliminations, including Hero McCrae and Patty Anne Miller; Irish step dancer Mary Kate Sheehan, and Princess Lockeroo, among others.Wadi's group is up and he hasn't even rehearsed, but he works it out and Mary tells him to drink plenty of water. After that, the hip-hop round catches fire and the judges are happy again. At the end of the round, some second-chancers take the stage. Eight dancers, including Chyna and Iveta, make the most of their second chance and are put through to the next day.Day 2 brings Broadway, and Tyce is doing the choreography. Wadi is back and teamed with Jordan Casanova, who didn't hesitate to show her sexy side in her original audition. Good thing, because this routine called for some serious sexiness. Everyone seems to do well and get through.Rebecca Hart and Jeremiah Hughes, who've both been to Vegas before and had mixed results. Rebecca nearly gave up on the competition completely after having made it to Vegas for a fifth time. Jeremiah threw a fit during a Mia Michaels contemporary routine the last time he was in Vegas. This time, he's happy and Rebecca is sad again after being dropped again. Broadway knocks out 14 more dancers.Jason Gilkison is on hand to choreograph the ballroom portion, which is jive. Natalie gets some attention because she's bigger than a typical dancer and her partner is a little on the small side. He struggles to pick her up. Nigel wants to give Natalia a stronger partner, and they both get reassigned. Natalia's sister Sasha joins Ryan Ramirez in the next group. Sasha gets through to the next round, along with everyone else in the group. Natalia is hooked up with "The Professor" for her second take. This time goes much better and everyone, including Natalia, gets a big laugh out of it. Nigel says, "There are no words for the joy that you brought to that routine." Alexis Mason, Jeannine's sister, is under pressure to perform. She doesn't quite cut it and the judges ask her to dance for her life. Tyce, while Alexis is dancing, says, "There's no flair." Nigel thinks Alexis is a fine dancer, but isn't giving it enough in her performance. He gives her a no. Mary agrees on the performance critique, but gives her a yes. Tyce follows, as does Debbie, which gives her enough votes to get through.The group round presents random music for the dancers to get used to, and Natalia starts to feel weak. Sasha is worried, but has to go to the theater when the dancers are called. The first group, made up of contemporary dancers Bridget, Caitlynn, Ricky, Clarice, and B-boy Wadi, kills it. More groups do great.DC, Arielle, Dashi and Jordan join Natalia, who has recovered from her rough morning. We see that the night before, DC had a bit of a breakdown when he thought he wasn't connecting with his group. He took a 30-minute bathroom break. The judges love it and say the dancers made them "see the music." Nigel praises Natalia, in particular, for "knocking down walls and barriers." DC then goes on a little speech about how other crumpers where he lives are hating on him. They all stay. After a lunch break and a chance to see the dancers in their swimsuits at the pool, we get treated to contemporary, which is choreographed by Travis Wall.Ryan Ramirez leaves the stage in pain. She says her tailbone is hurting. She's going to head to the hospital, but is worried about whether she'll miss the next two rounds. She leaves.Natalia seems to be feeling worse, and also has to head to the hospital. Sasha is worried and shows up just in time to see her sister taken away in an ambulance. She's back on stage now and partnered with The Professor.After some more dancers make it through, Ryan is back after learning her tailbone isn't broken, but she has deep bruising. With limited time to rehearse and still in "obvious discomfort," as Cat says, Ryan takes the stage. Debbie Allen tells Ryan she dances with the passion they're looking for, and she should go "ice that little butt" because she's on to the next round.More tears of joy follow.Jeremiah and Arielle are partnered, knowing that the contemporary round in Vegas has knocked them out before.For Arielle, it's a stunning development but she's out -- again. Jeremiah has better luck overcoming his past, and is overwhelmed by how far he's come in three years.DC is knocked out, but says he can't go back home. Debbie tells him she'll give him lessons herself if he wants to work to get where he wants to go. He takes her up on the offer. Chyna Smith also joins the growing list of booted contestants.Natalia returns after having missed the contemporary round, saying that after some tests the doctors think she has diabetes and gave her tips on how to proceed. She gets a chance to dance her solo after receiving what Nigel calls "a free pass" through contemporary.More solos are followed by more cuts, including Kimalee Piedad, Chase Thomas and Amber Williams. Other dancers make it, and head upstairs to celebrate in a luxury suite. Alexis Mason is back and after her solo, she's out. She seems more relieved than upset. At the end of the night, there are 31 dancers partying upstairs, but that means 11 will go before Vegas is over.
S8.E5 ∙ Meet the Top 20
It started with thousands, then 160 were invited to Vegas. Tonight, we learn the Top 20 finalists for Season 8 of "So You Think You Can Dance."In a new twist, the finalists will perform in front of the live studio audience as they're announced. Host Cat Deeley promises "nine electrifying routines."Robin Antin, Lil C, Tyce Diorio and ("back where she belongs," Cat says) Mary Murphy join executive producer Nigel Lythgoe on the panel.Nigel explains that the Top 20 will be named and that the all-stars will return as they did last year when we get down to the Top 10. He calls it "the best of both worlds."Ricky Jaime and Miranda Maleski are the first of the dancers to learn his fate, and after the requisite dramatic hype and build-up as if they were being given bad news, they got good news. Melanie Moore, who's already stood out in brief moments for her personality, is in, as well.Abigail and Caitlin are the first learn they're not in the Top 20.It's time to learn what's in store for the Mallory sisters. Sasha and Natalia have been attached at the hip throughout the auditions -- with the exception of when Natalia went to the hospital. Nigel tells them that only one of them is moving on. It's Sasha, and Natalia gives her a big hug, and is clearly quite happy for her sister.And, with the first live routine of the season, Ricky, Miranda, Melanie and Sasha perform a Stacey Tookey piece. Natalia is in the crowd and cheering loudly for her sister. Nigel is thrilled to see "such wonderful technique" and compliments Stacey's work. He says it bodes well for an exciting season. Tyce rejoices in the blending of great choreography and great dancers.It's time for the "street dancers," which we used to call B-boys or hip-hop dancers or crumpers or... yes, "street dancers" works. Chris Koehl, who doesn't look took familiar, stands there as Mary talks and talks and talks about doors closing and new challenges, and eventually settles on the fact that Chris is walking through a door to the Top 20, or something like that.Wadi Jones and Tad Gadduang join Chris in the Top 20, but the news isn't as good for Virgil (a.k.a. Lil O). He's gone, but Nigel spends a lot of time praising his personality. Another guy we haven't seen much of is out.That leaves "The Professor" Bryce and Robert "Woooo!" Taylor Jr. The Professor is out and Robert is in. And now the four remaining street dancers -- Chris, Wadi, Tad and Robert. Lil C says that under the supervision of MasterChef Dave Scott, they served up some kind of hip-hop souffle. Robin says hip-hop is about character and they succeeded in bringing that out.The ballroom bunch -- which is only two deep -- is up. Iveta Lukoskute and Lenny Crow are up. Lenny gets bad news. He's out, and it's now Iveta's turn to find out if her number is up. It's not (or is it? Which would be good?). It's good news for Iveta. She's in. Mary cries while she tells Iveta how much she admires Iveta for putting herself out there to be judged on the show despite being a world champion ballroom dancer. Iveta gets to dance with fan favorite Pasha. Mary delivers her first loud "WOOOO!" of the season. She's excited to have a world champion in 10 dances on the show (and she actually lists them all). Nigel says he hasn't been this excited since Pasha and Anya danced.Clarice Ordaz and Bridget Krause are up. Clarice is called into the room first. We see Mary tell Clarice about all the amazing jazz dancers they've seen this season. And we next see Clarice burst out of the room screaming with excitement about having made it into the Top 20.Bridget doesn't get good news, though. And another dancer falls after her.Marko Germar, the one who was shot during a robbery, makes it.Next are the "sexy" girls: Jordan Casanova and, well, they didn't exactly give us the name of the other one, but she tells she tries "to be the sexy one." Jordan is up first. Debbie strings her along, saying that at 18 they could give her more time to develop, but "why wait?" After Jordan gets in, Missy (they tell us her name this time) is worried. But she's in, too.Jordan, Missy, Clarice and Marko offer up a Sonya Tayeh routine. Tyce is very excited by it. He's standing up and says "this lineup here is a force to be reckoned with." Robin is very focused on how "sexy" it was.Jess LeProtto, a Broadway dancer, and rapper Nick Young are grouped together because, well, why not? Jess faces the judges and after hearing Nigel tell him he has "a fabulous style" but has a part of his personality that's "a little arrogant." Jess admits he's nervous about hip-hop but has taken "many classes" in ballroom. Robin then tells Nick that his great personality is what put him into the Top 20 (nevermind that we haven't really seen him before). Nigel thinks it's fabulous.There are five spots left. Caitlynn has the confidence in knowing that Nigel not long ago called her his favorite. She's in. Ashley Rick is in just as quickly. Robin says, simply, "Two words: Top 20."Ryan Ramirez and Alexa are getting nervous, but first we see Mitchell Kelly meet the judges. He's feeling confident, and apparently for good reason. He's in. Alexander Frost and Jeremiah Hughes are the last coupe of guys. Jeremiah thinks he deserves it and Alexander just wants to know, saying, "Put me out of my misery already." They go in together and Mary quickly tells Jeremiah he's out and Alexander is in.Back to Alex and Ryan, who missed the finals by just this much last season. Ryan tells the judges she doesn't feel like she showed them her full potential last year. She'll get the chance this year. She's in. That's bad news for Alexa.Now, Mitchell, Caitlynn, Ashley, Alexander and Ryan perform a Travis Wall routine. It's big and joyful, with lots of leaves being tossed around. Robin loves it, saying it was "a celebration of dance." Mary says it was "like this beautiful fall breeze" and that they looked like "five well seasoned dancers up there."The Top 10 guys perform a hip-hop-meets-contemporary routine choreographed by Chris Scott, who Lil C praises as the Master of Ceremonies at mixing genres. Nigel tells the guys that hip-hop is going to be fun, and then tells the guys that "the girls are beasts this season."As it becomes clear that these final dances are purely meant to fill that final half-hour of a two-hour show, the Top 10 girls are up next with a Sonya Tayeh routine that's all geisha-inspired. Mary stands and says, "We're not worthy!" Lil C gives a very "I love Sonya" kind of speech.Finally, Nigel explains that two dancers -- a guy and a girl -- will go home on Thursday, and then we see all 20 of the finalists dance together.America, your Top 20:Ricky JaimeMiranda MaleskiChris KoehlMelanie MooreWadi JonesSasha MalloryTadd GadduangIveta LukosluteRobert Taylor Jr.Jordan CasanovaAlexander FrostAshley RichJess LeProttoCaitlynn LawsonMitchell KellyMissy MorelliNick YoungRyan RamirezMarko GermarClarice Ordaz
S8.E6 ∙ Top 20 Perform
The Top 20 dancers are finally ready to perform on Season 8 of "So You Think You Can Dance," and we get a curve ball right from the start. Joining Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy on the panel this week will be ... Megan Mullally! Yes, the very Megan Mullally who has won two Emmys and now stars in "Children's Hospital." She's also a trained dancer.One dancer was missing from the introductions, though. Mitchell injured his elbow after his first rehearsal and a doctor asked him to rest. He will be in danger of elimination tomorrow as a result of not performing tonight.Jordan, whose birthday is today, turned 19. She wants to be a Pussycat Doll, she loves food and blue is her favorite color. B-boy Tadd is 19, played a dancing taco in a movie and almost died doing Bollywood. They draw dance an Afro-Jazz routine inspired by lava erupting from a volcano, choreographed by Sean Cheesman. Nigel says they were both really tremendous and if Tadd keeps picking up new styles so well hell go a long way. Mary says Jordan was so much more animalistic than she had expected. Tadd blew her away and just emerged as a star. Megan says their dance was a great start to the season, and praises Jordans extensions and Tadds power.Sasha & Alexander: Sasha is 23, forgets her age and likes purple. Alexander is 20 and speaks Spanish (sort of). Sasha and Alexander get a contemporary routine from Travis Wall, which is good for them because Alexander is a contemporary dancer. Mary loves Sashas stage presence and strength, saying, You just stand there and fill this room up. Mary tells Alexander she didnt feel the connection between the two of them. Megan calls Sasha an actress and says she came into the competition as a favorite and that wont be changing after the performance. She tells Alexander she felt a disconnect between his body and his face. Nigel calls Sasha a modern-day Amazonian princess and tells Alexander he would need more emotion in his face to compete with women as strong as Sasha in the competition.Clarice & Jess: Clarice, a Jazz dancer, is 19, her eyes change color and shes shy. Jess, 18, is a Broadway dancer from New Jersey who likes making weird noises. Clarice and Jess draw Broadway. Megan loves everything about it and says it was pure joy on a platter. She calls Jess a natural born performer and Clarice very sexy. Nigel thinks Clarice is had a tough time keeping up with Jess in Broadway. He said Jess outdanced her in the routine and that he can tell Jess will be one of his favorites this season. Mary says Jess was perfect tonight and told Clarice she wont be in any danger soon, sister.Ryan & Ricky: Ryan is 19 and she loves Law & Order: SVU, which is not on Fox. Ricky is from Florida and was a cheerleader. Ricky says it wont be difficult pretending hes in love with Ryan during their routine, because he is. They get a Chris Scott lyrical hip-hop routine that is a torn-up love story. Nigel tells them to be careful with their facial expressions, but he loved the dancing. He says Ryan is outstanding in a sea of girls who are very good this season. Mary is impressed with Rickys ability to stay in character, and she calls Ryan one of the strongest girls. Megan thinks the whole thing was beautiful.Caitlynn & MItchell: Caitlynn is matched with Mitchell, but... well, Mitchell isn't around. He's hurt. They draw a Sonya Tayeh jazz routine that's supposed to be "about what you can accomplish without fear." Robert joins Caitlynn in Mitchell's absence. Mitchell cries in the audience while applauding. Mary is wowed by Caitlynn and praises Sonya Tayeh. She says Caitlynn was "brilliant." She also plants a seed about wanting to see Robert back as an all-star. Megan is impressed by the amount of power and strength Caitlynn displayed as a smaller dancer. Nigel notes Caitlynn's tough week and quotes her original partner Mitchell, saying, "That was 10 across the board!"Miranda & Robert: Miranda is scared of the dark. She's partnered with Robert, who loves professional wrestling and pets. They draw Latin ballroom with Jason Gilkison. Miranda is struggling to be sexy. This is a straight-up, high-energy jive. Megan can't start talking over the cheering crowd, so she waits. She calls it "sheer delight" and adds, "you'd have to be in a coma not to like that." She calls Robert her Top 20 crush. Nigel says Robert might have the biggest personality of all the dancers, which could help or hurt him. Nigel doesn't think it was all there for Robert, and Miranda will need "a touch more" to keep up with the other girls. Mary says she was dancing in her seat the entire time. She says Robert stole the show tonight. She asks Robert to give her a "Woo" and he does. Mary gives a long, screeching "Woo!" right back.Missy & Wadi: Missy likes "long walks to the fridge" and wants to marry an Australian. Wadi was born in Jamaica, raises here and loves Japanese culture. They get a Sean Cheesman jazz routine about sexy demon clones coming out of a Pandora's Box. Nigel says the dancers are inspiring the choreographers to better and better work, and says it's the best work he's seen from Sean. Nigel calls Missy "without question, one of the beasts of the girls." He says she has it all. He tells Wadi he's impressed with how quickly the hip-hop dancers are picking up new styles. He tells Wadi he's "brilliant." Mary says it was "phenomenal." She tells Wadi she didn't know he had those kinds of partnering skills in him. Megan says it was amazing and is further impressed after learning that Wadi has never partnered before.Melanie & Marko: Melanie loves cookies, collects nail polish and really wants to be on "Ellen." Marko is from Guam, likes to eat a lot and falls out of his chair in high-pressure situations. They get a Travis Wall contemporary routine. Their chemistry is great immediately. Mary gets emotional for the first time this season. She then explains that every once in a while there's a magical number where everything that could possibly be amazing happens at once. Megan is almost at a loss for words, just saying, "chills, crying," and then adds, "as Oprah would say, 'Wow, wow, wow.'" Nigel says this "could possibly be the first Emmy-nominated routine." Nigel says he worries about Marko and the bullet in his shoulder. He calls Melanie "the queen of the beasts" and adds that he doesn't think the show has ever had a better girl dancer.Ashley & Chris: Ashley loves waffles, chips and orange soda. Chris is from Texas, one of seven kids, and loves going to the movies. Christopher Scott gives them a hip-hop routine about a couple who learn that each of them is cheating on the other at the same time. Chris has a moment when he relives actually having been cheated on. Nigel says it was fun and says it will be interesting to see how voters go -- whether for big dynamic, technical routines or just fun stuff. Mary calls it "pure, pure entertainment." Megan loves it, too, and takes a moment to praise the costume and makeup on the show by calling it the best on TV.Iveta & Nick: Iveta wants to have a monkey but it's illegal in New York. She's paired with tap dancer Nick, who speaks slowly, is named Nick and has a fun personality. Nick is ecstatic when they draw ballroom with Jason Gilkison, which is Iveta's speciality -- and by specialty, I mean, she's a world champion in, like, 10 dances. She puts him through ballroom boot camp. Megan is amazed at what Nick was able to do, being a tap dancer. She gives Iveta some requisite praise. Nigel acknowledges Iveta's place as a world champ in quickstep. He tells Nick he has "fabulous feet." Mary goes down the list of all the elements of the quickstep that make it so difficult, and checks every one of them off the list.
S8.E7 ∙ 2 of 20 Voted Off
We open the first results show of So You Think You Can Dance Season 8 with a Sonya Tayeh group routine. Host Cat Deeley reminds us about the rules: the three couples with least votes will dance solos in their own style before the judges decide who goes. Joining them will be Mitchell, who didnt perform Wednesday night because of an injury. The judges will cut one guy and one girl.The first three couples come out: Melanie & Marko, Missy & Wadi, and Iveta & Nick. After watching the highlight reel, we learn that Melanie and Marko are the first couple to escape the bottom three.Next up are Missy & Wadi, and Iveta & Nick. And both couples are safe. Cat announces that doctors cleared Mitchell to perform a solo later in the show.The next two couples are Ashley & Chris and Jordan & Tadd came next. And the first couple in the bottom three is Jordan & Tadd. Ashley & Chris leave the stage and are safe to dance another week.Caitlynn, who danced last night with Season 7s Robert after Mitchells injury, came up next. Clarice & Jess wait with Caitlynn to learn their fate. The couple hear they are in the bottom three but Caitlynn makes it through.Ryan & Ricky come up next and hear they are safe will be dancing next week. Miranda & Robert and Sasha & Alexander wait to hear together. Miranda & Robert are the final two dancers in danger of elimination.To the solos: Mitchell dances the first solo of the night after sitting out last nights show due to an injury. Jordan, Tadd and Clarice follow."Its impossible," Nigel Lythgoe exclaims about the difficult choice before the commercial break.Jess, Miranda and Robert finish the solos and Cat announces that Lady Gaga will guest judge later in the season while the judges deliberate. The world-exclusive of Gagas new video, "Edge of Glory," plays next.After the break, Nigel delays the results another moment to announce that saxophonist Clarence Clemons, most famous for his work with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and recently for a couple of songs with Lady Gaga, has suffered a stroke.Nigel asks Mitchell and Robert to dance again before the judges make their decision. They do. Nigel still wants to put the decision off a bit longer, so he asks Cat to bring the bottom three girls on stage. He tells Jordan shes superb, strong, controlled and has a beautiful personality. He says its a real shame shes in the bottom three, and asks her to step back. Clarice next hears she has a smile that would melt an ice cube, and says hes glad America put her in the bottom three because he got a chance to see her dance. Miranda, finally, hears that her elevation is remarkable and that she has beautiful feet. He says its difficult to figure out which of them will go home, so he wont do it now.The guys come back on stage. He tells Jess hes magnificent in his style and he doesnt know why Jess is in the bottom. He tells Tadd his jazz routine was tremendous. He tells Robert he has a wonderfully big personality, then reveals that nobody is going home this week.The catch is that two couples will go home next week. He says he wants to give America a chance to see more of them.
S8.E8 ∙ Top 20 Perform Again
After the Week 1 drama that included an injury and no elimination, the second week of performances on "So You Think You Can Dance" take on twice the significance as the Top 20 continue to dance for America's vote with the knowledge that four of them will go home Thursday.The couples are introduced: Jordan & Tadd, Clarice & Jess, Sash & Alexander, Caitlynn & Mitchell, Missy & Wadi, Ashley & Chris, Ryan & Ricky, Iveta & Nick, Miranda & Robert and Melanie & Marko.On the judging panel this week, dance icon Debbie Reynolds is the celebrity guest judge sitting in with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy. We're treated to a clip from "Singin' in the Rain," which makes Cat Deeley very excited.This week, the dancers were asked to reveal something their partner has been trying to keep secret.Ryan & Ricky: Ricky's revelation about Ryan: Her leg hairs grow really fast. Ryan's secret about Ricky is that his real name is Roderick. This is embarrassing to him. Mandy Moore gives them a "sexy, powerful, tension-filled" jazz routine. Nigel says it's "absolutely sensational" after we see that Ryan's stockings have torn. Mary says she's addicted to the two of them (playing off the fact that they danced to Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love"). Debbie points out that Ryan fell out of her top and her bottom, adding she "gave us your all."Caitlynn & Mitchell: Mitchell reveals that Caitlynn's toes turn blue in her dancing shoes. She tells us about Mitchell's zebra-print Snuggie. Stacey Tookey gives them a contemporary routine about a woman whose relationship is ending but she's too insecure to finish it. Caitlynn emerges wounded -- literally -- after Mitchell accidentally punched her in the nose. Mary is glad Mitchell got a chance to dance again. Debbie notes that Caitlynn "bled for us." Nigel acknowledges it's the first time we've seen them dance together because of last week's injury. While Caitlynn's nose bleeds, Nigel says he got the emotion conveyed through the dance.Missy & Wadi: Missy reveals that Wadi likes to use ladies' hair removal cream on his chest hair. He claims this only happened once. He tells us that Missy's laugh stops in a funny way. And they both laugh. A lot. They get a cha cha from Jean-Marc Genereux, who says it's the most difficult routine he's ever done on the show. Debbie says Wadi chewed up his cha cha, adding, "Muy bueno." Nigel tells Wadi he's going to keep it real, saying a lot was missing when it came to technique but that Wadi did well in the parts that required strength. He tells Missy she was "everything I could have hoped." Mary says the beginning was "absolutely spectacular," but Wadi "did fall short" once the dance really started. Then she calls Missy a "cha cha queen." She goes on to slam Wadi again, saying it was like "Dancing with the Stars," where Missy was the professional and Wadi was the student. Debbie then offers to take Wadi home so she can show him how to cha cha. Wadi, with some tears in his eyes, says "at least I made someone's night" when Cat tells him he made Debbie's night.Iveta & Nick: Nick tells us that Iveta tells herself how good she looks when she thinks she looks good. Iveta tells us that Nick wears shorts all the time. This is a big secret. Unless, of course, you've ever seen Nick. They get a Nakul Dev Mahajan Bollywood routine that he says is going to be lightning fast. Nigel says they kept it entertaining, and goes to great lengths to explain how it's not Iveta or Nick's style. Mary says she's "a fan of these two dancing." She says they "just seem to fit right." Debbie says she feels 20 years younger just being there and that they freaked her out in a very good way.Miranda & Robert: Miranda reveals that Robert thinks he's a pro wrestler. Robert, in turn, tells us that Miranda has a crush on Tadd, which makes her embarrassed. They get a Napoleon & Tabitha hip-hop routine about chickens or birds, or something. Mary says she gets nervous when animals are imitated on the show (who wouldn't, right?), but says this worked. She praises Robert for taking on the hip-hop, which is his style. But she's more surprised with Miranda's ability to handle it, saying she's "gone to another level." Debbie says she was mesmerized by them both, then does a Woody Woodpecker impression before calling them "the best woodpeckers ever." Nigel says he loved the routine, and that Miranda shocked him. He says she might be the best contemporary dancer he's seen do hip-hop.Clarice & Jess: Jess tells us that Clarice sleeps with her eyes open (but, really, wouldn't anyone named Clarice sleep with her eyes open in a post-"Silence of the Lambs" world?). She tells us that Jess draws entire orchestras using stick figures (and we're shown them). Stacey Tookey gives them a routine in which they play a prince and a princess, but the lifts are challenging Jess. Debbie thinks they were "so wonderful" and says she's going to take them both home with Wadi. Nigel says he enjoyed "parts of it." He says the parts they did individually were good, but when they were together it didn't work. Mary says Jess' emotions were perfect and that Clarice is a beautiful dancer with legs that go on and on.Jordan & Tadd: Tadd tells us that "Jordan isn't the brightest crayon in the box." We're shown a replay of when she won her "ticket" to Vegas said "SYTYCD Airlines" at the top and she thought the show actually had its own airline. She tells us about Tadd's packing obsession -- he color-coordinates everything and puts things in ziploc baggies. They get a Viennese waltz from Jean-Marc Genereux. Nigel says it was "just so beautiful" and adds, "it had everything." He reminds Tadd that he's a B-boy, saying that his presentation was "probably the best that I've seen a B-boy dance something like the Viennese waltz." Mary calls Tadd "the biggest surprise of this season." She says she was truly touched by Tadd's performance, and notes that Jordan has transformed into a beautiful ballroom dancer. Debbie says they were "just as wonderful" as Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.Melanie & Marko: Marko shares Melanie's secret: She has issues with people touching her ears. He does this, and she freaks out. She tells us that Marko loves to read romance novels. They get a Mandy Moore jazz piece. Mary tells them they're speaking "loud and clearly" with the voices they have when they dance. She says she never feels like she has to worry about them as a team when they face different styles. Debbie says she never worries about the musical stars of today "because you are it." Nigel agrees, saying it's too early to talk about stars, but that Melanie and Marko really do live up to the billing already.Alexander & Sasha: Alexander tells us that Sasha "sweats like a dude." She tells us he loves to look at himself in the mirror. Sasha is excited to find Napoleon & Tabitha, but this isn't a big, loud, fun hip-hop routine. It's a dance about a soldier coming home from Afghanistan and seeing his wife for the first time. Debbie notes that they were not only asked to dance, but also act and give a story that would make them cry, and Debbie did just that. Mary cries, too, saying that the story hits too close. She tells Sasha that she made her feel the emotions and asks Nigel to talk. He notes that the show was pushed back because of President Obama's speech about withdrawing the troops by September 2012 and that it seems so far off. He says they carried off the dance beautifully.Ashley & Chris: Ashley tells us that when Chris smiles his mouth opens and, well, he smiles. Apparently. He tells us that Ashley thinks she has swag, but she doesn't. They get a routine from Broadway choreographer Spencer Liff. He's making them dance with a set of prison bars between them. Nigel praises Spencer for such a creative routine. He notes that each of the judges have talked about how none of them would do well on the show because of how hard it is to dance our of your own genre. He notes that Chris is another hip-hop dancer who was "absolutely fantastic" in a style other than his own. He tells Ashley she was "just beautiful." Mary goes through the most convoluted explanation of how steam trains are powered to finally get to the point, which is that Ashley & Chris are on the "Hot Tamale Train." Debbie apparently thinks that Ashley & Chris, with their performance, made "Jailhouse Rock" more famous than Elvis Presley did.
S8.E9 ∙ 4 of 20 Voted Off
It's time for a double (or quadruple) elimination on So You Think You Can Dance. A week after no one went home, four dancers will be sent packing tonight. Cat Deeley introduces the judges and guest Debbie Reynolds says her stint as a judge was a new experience for her because she's used to being on stage rather than sitting on at a table.To the results: The first three couples on the stage are Missy & Wadi, Caitlynn & Mitchell, and Sasha & Alexander. Missy and Wadi are the first to land among the bottom three couples and will have to perform solos for the judges. Caitlynn (with a sore on her nose from Mitchell's accidental punch during their performance) and Mitchell come up next. Theyre safe. Sasha & Alexander learn their emotional ode to a soldier's return from war Wednesday night earned them a spot in next week's show.Miranda & Robert are up next, followed by Melanie & Marko. Both couples learn they are safe. Jordan & Tadd are left on stage with Iveta & Nick. Jordan and Tadd are safe, leaving Iveta & Nick in the bottom three couples.Ashley & Chris learn they are safe while Ryan & Ricky and Clarice & Jess come up next. Ryan & Ricky learn they are the final couple in danger of going home and Clarice & Jess are safe for another week.Be our guest: World champion dance company Rage Crew perform for their third time on the show. Later, LMFAO perform.On with the show...: Wadi, Missy, Nick, Iveta, Ricky and Ryan all perform their solos.After the guest appearances, Nigel tells Cat that the judges are unanimous in their choices. He tells Missy there's nothing in her dancing that he can fault. He says she had a problem with the cha cha, and specifically with her partner. He tells Iveta she's graced the show with her talent and will remain memorable for her first routine with Pasha. He tells Ryan her solo wasn't as good as you can do, and that there's more inside her that they haven't seen. He tells her that if she remains, shell have to show that. Shes going to get the chance. He quickly reveals that Ryan is the one who's safe for another week. Iveta and Missy are gone.Nigel tells Wadi he hasn't been given the chance to shine, but that the cha cha hurt him and his solo tonight didn't help. He tells Nick hes fortunate that there are two tappers on the panel and they think hes going to be a star. Nigel tells Ricky he doesn't think they've ever seen him dance better than he did in tonight's "dance for your life solo." He says Ricky laid himself out there and was "absolutely brilliant in that -- which is why we are keeping you on the show." That means Wadi and Nick are out.
S8.E10 ∙ Top 16 Perform
It's time for the Top 16 dancers to perform on "So You Think You Can Dance." Joining regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy are guest judge Lil C and celebrity guest Kristin Chenowith, who's putting out a country music album because, well, because that's what famous people do.To help fill two hours, er, to make things more interesting, host Cat Deeley explains that in addition to each couple's regular performances this week, the entire group has been split in half to perform two group routines. They won't be critiques, but the judges will take the dances into consideration when determining who stays and goes.The first of the group routines is a number choreographed by Tyce Diorio.Tonight, the dancers will talk about their first-ever performances, which will be accompanied by embarrassing childhood photos.Sasha & Alexander: Sasha tells us she was a tomboy and never hung out with girls, and her first performance as a child was portraying a frog. She now hates frogs. Alexander wore little bowties as a child, and his first performance was a tribute to "The Lion King" at his sixth birthday party. They get a Dee Caspary contemporary routine. Nigel tells Sasha she was "a tomboy frog who turned into a beautiful princess." He tells Alex he needs to work on his connection with the audience. Mary gives a moderate "I think you did," when answering her own question as to whether they pulled off the routine. Kristin tells Sasha she understands "the frog deal," explaining that she once played a tulip and a frog peed on her. She tells Sasha she doesn't hear a sound when she dances (which is a good thing) and that Alexander has great extensions ("and I'm not talking about the ones on my head.") Lil C throws a lot of big words around to tell them they are two really good dancers who pulled off a complicated routine. Caitlynn & Mitchell: Caitlynn loved playing in the dirt as a kid, but she was always dressed up. Her first performance was a "duck dance" in a funny blue and yellow get-up. Mitchell says he was a ham, always posing for pictures. He was a late bloomer, starting dance at 16, when he "killed" his first performance, playing Leroy in "Fame." Jean-Marc Genereux gives them a sexy samba. He tells them the power and voice of the samba is all in the hips and that's where the voice has to come out, "like speakers." Mary says her ears are ringing because "all the speakers have just been blown out." She says they were "both just really in it and living it." Kristin says, "Shut the front door ... shut the back door, shut the door to the garage." Lil C loved it and says to Mitchell, the late bloomer, "better late than never." Nigel says Mitchell's weakness was exposed in last week's cha cha, but his strengths came out in this samba. He tells Caitlynn "the articulation" in her body is perfect.Miranda & Robert: Miranda says she was very opinionated as a child. Her first performance was tap dancing and she says she was a natural. Robert tells us he loved "playing characters" one of those was Michael Jackson, who inspired him to do his first talent show. Tyce Diorio gives them a Broadway routine in which Miranda is "an upper-class working girl." It's fast and intricate, Miranda says, and they have a move on every beat. Kristin says she's "got nothin'" in terms of things they should work on. She says she wasn't sure when she watched their rehearsal earlier, but they killed it. Lil C tells Miranda she leaves him in awe when she dances, adding, "With legs like that, who needs arms?" He tells Robert he has a perfect personality. Nigel tells Miranda she's grown more than anyone in the competition. He tells Robert, a hip-hop dancer, how impressed he is with his performance. Mary tells Miranda more about her great transformation, and tells Robert he "caught on fire." She tells him he's "a star, and it's getting a little shinier every single week."Melanie & Marko: Melanie says she's been a performer since Day 1. In her first performance, a ballet-tap class, she wore a Little Bo Peep costume. Marko says he was a crazy kid and a big brat, but once he started dancing he calmed down. He did jazz and hip-hop at about 10 years old, and was "very internal" with his performance. They get a lyrical hip-hop routine from Napoleon & Tabitha. Lil C called them "a power couple" and said the beginning, especially, was "extra buck." Nigel says he can't judge them individually because they danced and breathed and their hearts beated together. He says they are "the couple to beat." Mary tells Marko his emotions were believable and his technique was "razor-sharp." She loves Melanie's nuances and asks how hard it was for them to kiss in the middle of the dance, and Nigel leans over and plants a huge kiss on Mary that sends everyone into a tizzy. Kristin says she's so moved she thinks she's going to ... and she leans over and plants a big kiss on Lil C. Ashley & Chris: Ashley says she was loud and obnoxious as a kid. Her first performance was at age 3, wearing a tutu and using a shopping cart as a prop. Chris has six siblings and his first performance was poetry reading. They get a jazz routine from Sonya Tayeh about some half-zombie, half-alive people. Nigel says he didn't connect with it and specifically didn't like the music. Mary understands Nigel's point but says they pulled off a lot of hard synchronization in the routine. Kristin acknowledges that this isn't her thing, but she was enthralled. Lil C explains that Sonya gives the dance movements a character within each of her dances. He calls Ashley a "sleeper cell" in the competition and tells Chris he sees him. Clarice & Jess: Clarice tells us she took every opportunity to perform. She did a "really cutesy" dance that went really well and her mom loved it. Jess says he was a crazy kid and that in his first performance as a child, all he did was wave to his mom the whole time. They get a foxtrot from Jean-Marc about a crooner who's ready to sing but decides to dance with a beautiful woman instead. Mary they did a perfect, gliding, sophisticated foxtrot. She tells Clarice she's great and tells Jess "there isn't a single other dancer that could've done what you just did." Kristin calls it her favorite performance of the night. Lil C tells Jess his "physical artistic expression is the definition of sophistication," which Jess doesn't seem to understand. Nigel compliments the costume designer for a beautiful dress and says Clarice lived up to it.Ryan & Ricky: Ricky shares that he never gave up a chance to dance. He says that in his first performance, he forgot his routine and started doing his friend's choreography and it all went downhill. Ryan says her first performance was at age 4 and she danced to "Animal Crackers" by Shirley Temple. They get a contemporary routine from Sonya Tayeh about a couple who knows their relationship is ending, but they don't know why something is tying them together. Ryan gets emotional just thinking about it and Sonya is on the verge of tears in the crowd. Kristin is in awe as the crowd roars. She says the performance "speaks." Lil C calls them a power couple after praising Sonya's ability to express emotion through dance. Nigel also praises Sonya for using her personal experience to convey a powerful dance. Mary heaps praise on them both and says she "loved every second of it."Jordan & Tadd: Jordan says she was a crazy kid who growled at people. Her first performance was in first grade, dancing to the Spice Girls. Tadd says he was a huge nerd as a kid and his dad taught him martial arts. They get a Napoleon & Tabitha hip-hop routine about a couple waking up the morning after a one-night stand and scrambling to get dressed. Lil C loved the concept and the execution, but told them to dance with their entire bodies. Nigel says the story overwhelmed the dance, but it "was great fun." Mary says they "put the whammy on all of us" and she loved it. Kristin wants all the doors shut again. The night ends with another group dance, a Dee Caspary number about medieval women getting revenge on the men around them by poisoning them.
S8.E11 ∙ Two of 16 Voted Off
We kick off the third results show of the season of "So You Think You Can Dance" with a group routine choreographed by Michael Rooney. Host Cat Deeley reminds us about all the kissing that was going on Wednesday night. After introducing the judges, Cat gives guest celebrity judge Kristin Chenowith another chance to plug her upcoming country album (complete with a random few seconds of her first music video). It was a little odd.To the results: Cat brings out the first three couples. Melanie & Marko are reminded of their Nappy-Tabs hip-hop routine that was well received by the judges. They were the ones who started all the kissing and Cat tells them, "If you kiss again, you're safe." A peck on the cheek was enough.Chris & Ashley are reminded of their Sonya Tayeh zombies dance that the judges weren't wild about. No big shock, they're in the bottom three.Finally, Ryan & Ricky also drew a Sonya piece, but it was much more well received, with Mary says she "loved every second of it." They're safe.Cat next brings Jordan & Tadd to center stage. They had a Nappy-Tabs hip-hop routine that all the judges loved. The voters loved it, too. They're safe.Sasha & Alexander had a Dean Caspary routine that the judges liked a lot. Before getting their results, we get a recap of Miranda & Robert's routine, which left the judges at a loss for even more positive things to say than they'd already said. The second couple in danger is Miranda & Robert, leaving Sasha & Alexander safe.Next, Jess & Clarice are reminded of how awesome the judges thought they were, with Kristin saying it was her favorite dance of the night. Caitlynn & Mitchell had Kristin wanting to shut all the doors in the house (in a good way), but it wasn't enough to avoid landing in the bottom three.Be our guest: Cat introduces AXIS, a dance company that's been around for a long time and combines dancers with and without disabilities. Later, the current U.S. and World theatrical ballroom champions, Eric Luna and Georgia Ambarian, perform.Back to the results: After the judges deliberate, Nigel says they love all three girls on stage and adds that the judges are not unanimous. He tells Miranda that even though she's the most improved girl in the competition, she's going home.When it comes to the guys, Nigel says the judges are unanimous. He tells Mitchell that he does really well when he dances for his life, but they have to take into account that he keeps landing in the bottom three "and somehow you are not connecting with the public." He tells Chris he's doing a good job, but he has to grow quicker for the public to recognize what he's doing and he's "not quite there yet." He tells Robert that despite his personality, he keeps landing in the bottom three. But this will be the last time he lands in the bottom three, because he's going home.
S8.E12 ∙ Top 14 Perform
Carmen Electra and Travis Wall are the guest judges this week on "So You Think You Can Dance," joining Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. Carmen says she started dancing at 5 and won Miss Dance Ohio before working with Prince and Jamie King, and beginning thrashing (her favorite style). She then landed with the Pussycat Dolls. Travis thanks everyone for letting him be part of the show that helped launch his dance career several seasons back.Justin Giles choreographs a group routine for the guys.Melanie & Marko: Melanie and Marko start the night with a jazz routine from Ray Leeper. Travis loves it, praises Marko and tells Melanie she's "by far" his favorite dancer in the competition. Carmen loves Melanie's strength and the whole routine. Mary says "nothing great is ever produced without passion," and they have it all over the place. She renames Marko "The Domination Man." Nigel says their technique matches the performance.Sasha & Alexander: Hip-hop choreographer Shaun Evaristo gives Sasha & Alexander a routine that has Alexander desperate seeking swag -- and not succeeding in rehearsal. Carmen says she couldn't stop watching Sasha, which meant she couldn't get the feel of the two of them as a couple. Mary says she wishes she could say she saw the swag, but she didn't. Nigel gets booed, like Mary did, for saying it felt like Hip-Hop 101. He suggests they read "Hip-Hop for Dummies." Travis "didn't hate it as much as they did," but does think they have a lot to work on.Jordan & Tadd: They get a smooth waltz from Toni Redpath, which puts Jordan in the role of a magical sea creature who seduces Tadd with her singing. Once she does, she kills him with a kiss. Mary gives a quick history lesson on the waltz and says this one was "dreamy and romantic." She praises Jordan specifically for a graceful floor sweep. Nigel says he's surprised at how well Tadd, a hip-hop dancer, did and that he's doing moves he wouldn't have imagined. Travis says it was beautiful, but could have been a little smoother. Carmen says she enjoyed the dance and that even though she doesn't know much about the waltz, she knows what she feels and she liked it.Clarice & Jess: Justin Giles gives the couple a hard-hitting contemporary piece that's intricate and specific. The intense dance has them faking punches and shoves. Travis says they "just came alive" and that it was his favorite dance of theirs this season. Nigel is in total agreement and says the dance really made him feel the anger they were intending to convey. Carmen also says she believed the story and they really showed the "love and hate" that comes up in a breakup. Mary says their partnership has been growing every week. She says they're not peaking too soon and they're going in the right direction.Ashley & Chris: Liz Lira gives the couple an intense salsa that she says is one of the more complicated routines she's choreographed. Ashley is proud of her partner. Travis starts by saying he loves them and it started out really hopeful, but then it started to fall apart a little. He says the chemistry wasn't quite there and it didn't pop. Carmen says salsa is "hot and it's on fire" and this one felt like they were hesitating. There was potential, she says, but they weren't quite hitting those moves. "It wasn't bad, but it was OK," she says. Mary says this dance wasn't as hot as their previous ones, but some things were still simmering. Nigel was impressed with the lifts, but when it comes to "the freedom of salsa" they weren't quite consistent.Ryan & Ricky: Chucky Klapow gives them a jazz routine about two members of a cult of fashion who are done in by following their obsession with what's hot and hip. Carmen says they "rocked." She loved the music choice, the energy. Mary says it was hot and says she liked seeing this kind of quirky stuff on the dance floor. Nigel agrees and that the routine suited them well. He says it's great to see choreography that allows them to be together when they're apart. Travis says they had his attention the entire time and that he can see both of them making it past Top 10, for sure.Caitlynn & MItchell: Mandy Moore gives them a contemporary routine about falling in love. It's a challenge, but also gives Mitchell the task of carrying Caitlynn through some serious lifts. The crowd roast and the judges join in on a standing ovation. Mary shouts that it was her favorite number of the night. She's on the verge of tears as she talks about how beautiful it was. She loves the leaps, trust, lack of fear and uninhibited approach they took. Nigel says "the emotion in that routine just grabbed us all." He says the whole routine took his breath away. Travis says he kept catching himself trying to catch his breath. He says Caitlynn is the surprise for him this season. Carmen says something about them being large, beautiful and powerful, and joins in the chorus by calling them the best of the night.The final group dance, for the girls, is a jazz routine choreographed by Ray Leeper.
S8.E13 ∙ Two of 14 Voted Off
Wednesday was an historic night on "So You Think You Can Dance" as four choreographers made their debuts and an ex-contestant took a spot on the judges' table. Now it's Thursday, and two more contestants will be history.Conspicuously absent from the judges' table tonight is Carmen Electra, who seemed to struggle a bit.To the results: Melanie & Marko are one of the first couples to the stage. Their jazz number on Wednesday pleased the judges, so much so that Travis Wall told Melanie she's his favorite dancer in the competition. Before getting to their results, Caitlynn & Mitchell's contemporary routine that brought Mary to tears is recapped. Both couples are safe.After a plug for National Dance Day, the next three couples hit the stage.Ashley & Chris' "sizzling salsa," as Cat puts it, didn't connect for the judges and it's not much of a surprise when Cat tells them they're in the bottom three. Nigel says the whole idea of the show is to do styles you're not used to, and emphasizes again that their performance "wasn't good enough."Clarice & Jess' contemporary routine made the judges happy and they talked a lot about the improvement the couple has shown. Has it been enough to stay out of the bottom three? Before we find out, we see highlights of Jordan & Tadd's smooth waltz, which also had the judges pouring on the praise. Jordan & Tadd fall to the bottom three while Clarice & Jess are safe for another week.Mary says the voters must have gone to the kitchen while Jordan & Tadd were dancing. She thinks they've been outstanding, but admits that last night's performance might have been their weakest, but "it wasn't bad."Finally, we're down to the last couples. Ryan & Ricky's wild zombie jazz dance sent the judges and the crowd into hysterics. Sasha & Alexander's hip-hop routine was lost on the judges, with Nigel calling it "Hip-Hop 101." The final couple in danger is ... Ryan & Ricky. Travis says he's confused, shocked and surprised because he thought Ryan & Ricky were one of the best couples last night.Be our guests: Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet performs. After the solos, Florence and the Machine perform their song, "Cosmic Love."The eliminations: Nigel says all the girls on the show are beautiful and randomly takes the opportunity to point out that Kim Kardashian is in the audience. He finally gets back to the critique and tells all the dancers that they need to show different sides of themselves and need to up their games in the solos.He specifically tells Jordan that she has to show more than just how strong her legs are. He tells Ryan the judges love her and she gave a good solo. He finally tells Ashley she's been good throughout, but she hasn't peaked. And he sends her home.On to the guys. Nigel tells Ricky that Travis thinks Ricky is the best contemporary dancer in the competition (next to Marko). He tells him that somehow he and Ryan aren't connecting with America. He tells Chris he always brings out his best when he's dancing for his life. He tells Tadd that Travis really wants to work with him. Finally, Nigel tells Chris that he's not doing what the choreographers are asking of him, and so it's time for him to go.
S8.E14 ∙ Top 12 Perform
The Top 6 couples on "So You Think You Can Dance" will perform together for the final time before the all-stars from previous seasons come into play and it becomes a truly individual competition."Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who has "an extensive Broadway background," Cat tells us, is on the judges table. Choreographer Sonya Tayeh makes her first appearance, joining regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe.Sasha & Alexander: Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin work up an intense paso doble for Sasha and Alexander that shocks Mary with an ending kiss. Nigel wonders if it was choreographed or impromptu, and Sasha says she's not sure. He liked it, but there was one part that got a little sloppy. He says Alexander was "much stronger tonight than I've seen you in a while" and that Sasha "did brilliantly." Mary says it "was hot, it was on fire" and she loves the way Sasha took on some of the elements typically reserved for the man in the dance. She tells Alexander he was great, but Sasha was "just a little bit stronger." Jesse says he "loved every moment" and refers to Sasha's bra falling off in rehearsal. He says Alexander kept up well. Sonya says it was "absolutely amazing." She praises Sasha because she's "all about strength in women" and that she wants to trust Alexander more in his partnering.Jordan & Tadd: Travis Wall puts together a routine about the women who take advantage of weak men. It's a "dark and heavy piece," Tadd says, and he's hoping the audience picks up on that energy. The crowd appears to have picked up on it quite nicely, standing in approval. Mary calls it "beautiful, dark, magnificent, WOO!" She says it's "no surprise to her" any longer that Tadd is dancing so strongly. She tells Jordan she "demolished that whole thing." Jesse says Tadd made the story this "brilliant, beautiful thing" and that Tadd proves that the guys are in it to win it. Sonya wishes she could swear, and this performance was the kind of thing that makes her want to cry. She says they're both "unstoppable." Nigel agrees it was remarkable, pointing out a cool flip jump Tadd did, but that the pair of them were "absolutely tremendous."Ryan & Ricky: A Broadway routine with choreographer Spencer Liff tells the story of a guy waiting for his date to arrive when he turns and sees a movie star from a poster come to life and they share a dance. It's got a cool, Rat Pack vibe to it and the audience rises to its feet again. Jesse says it felt like there was a glass ceiling on the performance, "a little muted." He says it didn't sparkle and he knows they're capable of more. Sonya says she felt like the dancers were questioning the routine the whole time, but "it was OK." Nigel agrees and says it's "about style" and that if you're not comfortable with the Broadway style, you lose the flavor of the steps. Mary says the first 30 seconds were great and they had the style, but then they did lose the style and could have done more with the steps they were given.Caitlynn & Mitchell: Christopher Scott gives them a routine in which the dancers are intended to portray children in northern Uganda who are forced into fighting. Sonya says she loves Chris Scott but there was a lack of clarity and unison. The details got too jumbled for her, which distracted from the story. Nigel agrees, saying that when he's being asked to buy into abductees in the Congo, all he wants is for the dancers to dance together. Mary says she understands the disconnect with the story, but they danced strong, if not completely in unison all the time. She says it was just a little bit short. Jesse says they dance with so much power, but he did have a problem getting the story.Melanie & Marko: Louis van Amstel choreographs a tango for Marko and Melanie that's probably the toughest challenge the couple has faced. He says something happened between rehearsal and the live show because it was "really tremendous." Mary takes a moment to talk about different kinds of tango. She points out more of the technical aspects and that even though it could have been better, it was "night and day" from dress rehearsal to the live show. Jesse wonders whether Mary Murphy is "the lost Osmond." He then tells Marko and Melanie they have spark and no one can take that away. Sonya every step both of them take comes from "the deepest place" and it makes her shake. She calls them both timeless dancers.Clarice & Jess: Chris Scott gives them a lyrical hip-hop routine about a woman's insecurities. He suggests they think about sound effects with their movements to help get them just right. Mary says they had her dancing in her seat. Jesse jokes that he didn't care for it, then says, "Happy Opposite Day, everybody, I loved it." He Sonya says they're "so adorable," and that Chris makes things look so cool. She says they "just slayed it." Nigel loved the story. It was simple and beautifully danced, he says. He encourages Chris to stick with the simple stories rather than go "too far abroad."Sasha & Alexander: For their second routine, Sasha and Alexander land a Tyce Diorio jazz piece. Jesse makes references to past seasons and past dances before talking about this one -- oh, there it is. He says this was beyond even the best one he saw them do this season. Sonya wants to swear again in the process of praising Tyce. She tells Alexander he broke through. She tells Sasha she made it happen. Nigel says Sasha has carried Alexander through a lot of the routines, but "not tonight." He says this was the best he's seen Alexander dance ever. Mary agrees that Alexander had "an extremely breakthrough night."Jordan & Tadd: Spencer Liff gives them a Broadway routine about a girl who's been asleep for 100 years and is awoken by a kiss. Sonya starts by saying, "I'm sorry," which is never good. She says she felt overwhelmed and it was "a jumble of things." She says she didn't see their abilities and their craft, but she loves them both. Nigel says it could have been a little quirkier and that they could have brought more character to it. Mary says the dancers have to find ways to make it work, and this one just didn't work. Jesse agrees, saying it was a "bit of a grab bag," but their first dance of the night was one of his favorites of the season.Ryan & Ricky: Louis van Amstel is back with a cha cha for Ryan and Ricky. He wants to get them out of the bottom three. Ricky is excited to get out of his comfort zone. Nigel says Ricky did a really good job and his feet did well. He tells Ryan she was overdoing it a little and her footwork was a little sloppy. Mary says it was "the fastest darn cha cha" she's ever seen. She agrees with Nigel on Ryan's sloppiness as the dance progressed. She says she doesn't know who Ricky is because his steps were so tight and clean, he was "just livin' the cha cha" like she wants to see it. She puts Ricky, and only Ricky, on the Hot Tamale Train. Jesse says this was his favorite dance of Ricky's this season. Sonya says Ricky was enjoying and celebrating the dance, and it showed. She tells Ryan she wants her to embrace how wonderful she is and not lose her conviction, which will allow her to loosen up in her dancing.Caitlynn & Mitchell: Travis Wall gives them a jazz routine where a 1970s rock star (Caitlynn) finds out that her man is married. Mary calls it "slightly naughty" and gusty and she "loved it." She says there was "some tough stuff" in the routine and they did it very well. Jesse says they can prevent forest fires by never dancing in the forest. Sonya says Caitlynn is totally hot and shouldn't be that hot. She tells Mitchell that he sometimes loses his intention when it comes to partnering. She says that sometimes his partnering looks like work. Nigel says that's good advice. His only criticism is that they shouldn't have involved the crowd as much as they did and that they should have been focused on the "argument" happening between them in the dance.Melanie & Marko: Dee Caspary gives them a routine about dancing into the light, or something involving a light bulb. The crowd gives another standing ovation. Jesse says he's got goosebumps and that they're amazing and that this is his new favorite performance of theirs. Sonya says she's "just so grateful that this is the future of dance." She tries not to get emotional, but thanks them and asks them to "please stay humble and please stay true." Nigel says he's excited about next week when the couples are split up, except for the fact that they'll be split up because there's something special about their chemistry. He says "this didn't feel like you'd been choreographed, it felt like you were moving to your own magical movement." Mary says she'll be devastated when the couple is separated. She calls them "two shining stars."Clarice & Jess: Tony Meredith and Melanie Lapatin give them a fast and bold jive that tests the limits of Jess' leg-kicking abilities. Sonya just repeats, "I love it, I love it," several times before ending with, "Perfect, amazing." Nigel agrees but says he's a little uncomfortable when Jess lifts. He's hopeful that the routine will bring votes in. Mary says the leg kicks were fabulous, but it lost steam as it went along and she missed some of the joy from Jess. She says Clarice had it. Jesse says he's not the mayor of Broadway, but that Jess deserves an honorary key (or something like that). Jesse then randomly suggests that Cat should be nominated for an Emmy when the picks come out Thursday.
S8.E15 ∙ Two of 12 Voted Off
One guy and one girl are going to fall just a tiny bit short of the Top 10, and it's time to find out which on "So You Think You Can Dance" results show.Guest judges Jesse Tyler Ferguson is back and she and Cat Deeley take a moment to congratulate each other on their Emmy nominations. Cat seems genuinely touched when Nigel emphasizes her nomination and the crowd gives her a standing ovation. Nigel also tosses to a montage of routines by Mandy Moore, Mia Michaels, Stacey Tookey, Travis Wall, and Napoleon & Tabitha, who were all nominated, as well.To the results: The first two couples called to the stage are Clarice & Jess and Caitlynn & Mitchell. After their recaps, we learn that the first two dancers who've made it to the Top 10 are Clarice & Jess. Caitlynn & Mitchell are in the bottom three.Nigel explains that each dancer in the Top 10 will be paired with a new partner for one dance, in addition to being paired with an all star. Nigel explains that Alex Wong, who was injured last season, was asked to return as an all-star but injured his left tendon while doing the same step at an audition as he was doing on the show last season when he injured his right tendon. So he's out. The all-stars are introduced, and they are: Season 1's Melody; Season 2's Allison; Season 3's Pasha; Season 4's Twitch, Comfort and Chelsie; Season 5's Brandon; Season 6's Kathryn; and Season 7's Robert.Melanie & Marko and Ricky & Ryan are next on stage. The next two dancers into the Top 10 are Melanie & Marko. Ryan & Ricky are in danger.Finally, Jordan & Tadd and Sasha & Alexander learn their fates. The next safe couple is Jordan & Tadd. Alexander looks utterly shocked. They're in the bottom three.Be our guest: Jason Samuel Smith and his tap company put on a pretty nifty little show. After Nigel talks more about National Dance Day, the solos happen. Cat sends the judges off to confer while Nicole Scherzinger performs.The eliminations: Nigel says the judges were unanimous with the girls. He asks Caitlynn to step forward. He tells her they haven't seen her dance as well as she did in her solo. He next tells Ryan she was a little lackluster on Wednesday and didn't do her solo as well as they would have liked. He tells Sasha they weren't knocked out with her solo but they think she's fabulous as a dancer. He the reveals that the girl leaving the show is Ryan.The guys step up and Nigel says the judges were not unanimous, it was three votes to one. He tells Mitchell he did a pretty strong solo but his work has been "between average and very good." He tells Ricky he gave a "dance for your life" that was one of the best he's ever seen. He tells Alexander he found himself in the competition Wednesday night, but his solo was lacking and for that reason, he's going home.
S8.E16 ∙ Top 10 Perform
We're down to the Top 10 on Season 8 of "So You Think You Can Dance and the dancers will now be paired with all-stars from previous seasons, in addition to doing solos. They'll then be subject to America's votes as individuals for the first time this season.Joining regular judges Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe is star of stage and TV screen, Neil Patrick Harris. But before getting to Neil's intro, Nigel plugs the show's summer tour, which starts some time later this month. Neil is happy to be on a show that he's a big fan of.Marko: Chelsie Hightower of "Dancing with the Stars" fame returns to dance with Marko on a Jason Gilkison samba. Chelsie says it's good to be back reliving the experience of "SYTYCD" after the performance. Neil says it was "amazing" and "a heck of a way to start the show." Neil says Marko is "the guy to beat." Mary screams that Marko is "the real deal." She's so excited, her earring falls off, and she says it won't surprise her at all if Marko is in the finale. Nigel praises Marko for pulling off a complicated lift that was giving him trouble in rehearsal. Nigel says Marko is "ahead of the field."Sasha busts out a cool solo.Jordan: Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson cook up a contemporary routine for Jordan, which she'll dance with Brandon, who says there's so much going on there's hardly a chance to get a breath in. A shirtless Brandon is told (jokingly, of course) by Cat that he needs some muscle definition. Mary says it's "so great" to see Brandon on stage, but that Jordan was just fierce and that Dwight and Desmond just showed everyone her talents. Nigel says Jordan doesn't have many weaknesses, which gave the choreographers a chance to try new things. Neil says it took his breath away and that watching Jordan "feel" the number was impressive.Jess shows off his jazzy Broadway skills.Tadd: Landing near his comfort zone, Tadd gets a Chuck Maldonado hip-hop routine, partnered with Comfort. Nigel says it was so fast, there was no time to think. "It was like listening to Mary Murphy talk." Nigel points out that B-boys don't typically do the kind of choreography that was asked of him and suggests that he might have outdanced Comfort. Neil talks the opportunity to plug an upcoming "How I Met Your Mother" episode and the bit of hip-hop in that has him jealous of anyone who can pull off such moves. Mary tells Tadd he's "something special" and he "hit this out of the ballpark." He says he was "ghetto-licious." And Mary Murphy would know?Melanie does a tender contemporary solo to a soft version of "You're the One that I Want."Mitchell: Tyce Diorio puts together a Broadway jazz routine for Mitchell, who's partnered with Season 1's Melody. The routine has something to do with flying in an airplane ... in first class. Neil is puzzled, saying he didn't really get the airplane theme at all, but "it all seemed very, sort of, disjointed and not incredibly thought out for me, just as a piece." He goes on to say it seemed "very pieced together ... but, that was not my favorite." Nigel appears to look back at Tyce in the crowd in mock (or real) amazement. Mary says the number was "a lot of fun" but "a little overbaked." Nigel tells Mitchell he's got to think about style more than technique.Ricky shows off some mad spinning and jumping skills in his solo.Clarice gets a chance to show some impressive body control in his high-kicking solo.Caitlynn: Pasha joins Caitlynn for a tango choreographed by Leonardo Barrionuevo and Miriam Larici. Pasha runs off afterward because he has another dance later. Mary rises to her feet and praises the choreographers, saying it was "so worth the wait" for the season's first Argentine tango. She says Caitlynn's "passion was more real tonight" than with any of her other dances. She says Caitlynn took her dancing "to another level," and adds that she can't remember when she enjoyed something more. Nigel tells Caitlynn she was "a woman, and far sexier" than she's been so far this season. He puts Caitlynn's performance among Miriam and Anya. Neil says it started a tiny bit slow for him, but then he found himself zoning into it "like great theater."A shirtless Mitchell displays some serious muscle tone and graceful spins and jumps with his contemporary solo.Sasha: Twitch is back! But we're supposed to be paying attention to Sasha, who joins Twitch for a Christopher Scott hip-hop routine about a couple that's lost the spark and regains it over a particularly sensual breakfast. "At first we were lacking love, but then we were lacking breakfast," Twitch says. The crowd goes wild. Nigel's jaw is still hanging when he says, "All I got for breakfast this morning was corn flakes." Cat asks if they were "soggy" and he says, "They were after that routine." Then there are several awkward moments as Nigel realizes what he just suggested. He tells Sasha she nailed the routine from beginning to end. Neil calls it "the best routine, so far, of the evening." He goes on about how awesome it all was and suggests that Sasha and Twitch do every dance together. Mary says she needs to call the sheriff, the fire department and the paramedics. She says that "as much as I love Twitch, I loved you doing that number."Jordan spins a bit and goes for sensual with her solo.Jess: Kathryn is back and joins Jess for a Stacey Tookey contemporary routine. Jess is a little nervous about the many lifts, for which he's taken some criticism this season. Stacey tells us that Kathryn can "practically levitate, so if he can't lift her, we're in trouble." Neil says it was "an extraordinarily designed" performance by Stacey, but that Jess' face sometimes is a little muggy and reminds Jess to be "as present and sincere as possible." Mary calls it her favorite piece that Jess has done this season. She loved the music, choreography and Jess in the piece. Nigel feels bad about having given Jess such a hard time about the lifts, then realizes Jess got a routine with "more lifts than Joan Rivers' face." He agrees it was probably Jess' best work to date.Tadd shows off some wild maneuvering and tons of handstand work in his solo.Melanie: Jake Gilkison gives Melanie and all-star Pasha a Viennese waltz in which Melanie serves as Pasha's "rock" and leads him through much of it. Mary says it seems as if Melanie's feet never touched the floor, as if she was "just floating all across the stage." She says, "I honestly don't know how you do it" because of the difficulty involved in the timing of lifts. She tells Melanie she's right at the top of the list. Nigel agrees it was "a master class in lifting." Nigel says she's "a solid, absolutely brilliant dancer." Neil says it was all "so effortlessly perfect" that it didn't even feel like there were lifts in the routine. He says she's one of the "super-hero people" he sees on the show, who do things he can't believe. He says she looks like she's "from the '30s" but dances "like she's from the future." He says she's easily his favorite dancer on the show.Caitlynn puts on a quick, easy, good but ultimately not wildly exciting solo.Ricky: Allison from Season 2 has Ricky a little star struck as he practices his Tyce Diorio jazz routine in which Ricky is Allison's "worst nightmare." Nigel immediately congratulates Tyce for a "sensational" and "very creative" piece. Nigel says Ricky was certainly up to the level of Allison and that he was focused on Ricky. Neil praises Tyce for a "pretty bold call" because Ricky often dances quite young and Tyce took a chance on trying to make Ricky into a serious kind of figure. Mary says this routine was "deliciously dark" and that Ricky "really brought it." She praises a particularly tricky one-armed lift that Ricky pulled off.Marko mixes up strength and grace with a lot of spins and rotating flips for his solo.Clarice: Nakul Dev Mahajan gives Clarice and all-star Robert a fast Bollywood routine about a guy and girl doing a bit of cat-and-mouse leading up to a kiss. Neil loves it and says it is infectious. He says he never quite connected with Clarice and wasn't sure why, but that the routine helped her come alive. Mary says it was "exhilarating to watch." She says the routine was just perfect for Clarice. Nigel agrees, saying she couldn't have done it any better. He says it was a great end to the show and Robert did a fabulous job.
S8.E17 ∙ Two of 10 Voted Off
The Top 10 week results show on "So You Think You Can Dance" gets going pretty quickly as, after a brief introduction, Cat Deeley calls out the first three contestants to get their results.To the results: Mitchell, Tadd and Melanie are up first. The judges weren't wild about Mitchell's Broadway routine, but loved Tadd and Melanie's work. Mitchell is in the bottom four. Tadd and Melanie are both safe. Marko, Sasha and Clarice are up next. Marko and Sasha both had the judges going wild and Clarice's Bollywood number earned some rave reviews. The first girl in danger, though, is Clarice. Jess, Ricky, Caitlynn and Jordan are the next dancers on stage. Both guys did well with the judges, but Ricky is in danger and Jess is safe. Caitlynn took her dancing "to another level," according to the judges, and Jordan did a pretty solid job herself. Caitlynn is safe and Jordan is in danger.Be our guest: Blush is joined by Snoop Doog on stage.Back to the results: Nigel say the judges were unanimous with both decisions and asks that the guys join the girls on stage. He says he wants to explain that being in the bottom group doesn't mean they're not good dancers. He points out that Twitch and Allison were in the bottom three several times and they're now "all-stars." He says he doesn't have anything to say about any of the dancers being bad and adds that he's sorry two of them are going home. He asks Mitchell and Clarice to step forward. He thanks them for being in the competition, but they're out now.
S8.E18 ∙ Top 8 Perform
The Top 8 dancers will face a couple of special guest judges on Wednesday's episode of "So You Think You Can Dance." Choreographer and film director Rob Marshall and Lady Gaga are on the panel. Sasha: Sasha gets paired with Pasha ("Easy to remember," as they tell us) for a quickstep choreographed by Jonathan Roberts. Rob gets put on the spot first and says Sasha is "astonishing" and calls her one of his favorites. He says the genre doesn't show off Sasha's best attributes, but she was "beautiful." Mary says Sasha "absolutely pulled it off" despite it being such a restrained dance compared to what Sasha's used to. Nigel proclaims Sasha is his favorite dancer in the competition, at least as of this week. Lady Gaga says Sasha is as shiny on the outside as she is on the inside. She says she loved the way Sasha "interpreted the intention of the choreographer."Caitlynn: Marty Kudelka puts together a lyrical hip-hop routine for Caitlynn with Ivan from Season 2. Mary was really happy to see Ivan and goes on to talk about how awesome he is for a while before telling Caitlynn she was "really good." Nigel gives a little critique, telling her to open her legs a little bit and get into the pocket, but says she ultimately "played the part really well." Lady Gaga says Caitlynn is "extremely sexy." Rob says she did great and that lyrical hip-hop was a beautiful style for her. He tells her to lose herself more in the dance, and says Gaga is "the queen" of losing herself in a dance. Jordan: Tyce puts together a jazz routine for Jordan, which she dances with Ade. Nigel wonders, "Is there anything that little body can't do?" He says that was a fun routine and that Jordan's legs "go on forever." Lady Gaga says Jordan gives her hope because she's also short and Jordan has great moves and makes her legs look long. Rob says Jordan is "exquisite" to watch and that he'd scream like Mary if he could. Mary jumps all over that invitation and screams, then tells Jordan she's "really something."Melanie: Mandy Moore gives Melanie and all-star Neil a contemporary routine about a couple at the crossroads of a relationship. Everyone gives a massive standing ovation and Lady Gaga is on the verge of tears telling Melanie she's her favorite dancer in the competition, adding that she'd hire her tomorrow to dance on her tour. Rob says Melanie's dancing is "just poetic" and magical. He praised how she ended the dance, throwing away the technique and just playing the scene. Mary says she enjoys the Melanie's abandon, especially on a big jump into Neil's arms. Nigel says he's changed his mind about his favorite dancer -- it's Melanie again. Ricky: Jason Gilkison gives Ricky and all-star Anya a fast-paced jive. Rob says Ricky's legs, lines and technique are "out of this world." He suggests that Ricky "dig in" to the floor a little deeper. Mary says she wasn't sure about his routine at the beginning, but as he went along everything started getting better and she was "very happy." Nigel says Ricky was "too tall" and agreed with Rob that Ricky needs to get down into the floor more. He also points out a lift that looked "a little labored," saying it looked like he was carrying around a slab of meat. Lady Gaga says she doesn't know why she has a sweet spot for Ricky. She says he looks strong, nimble and quick. She says Anya looked "a little more 'Dancing with the Stars'" and didn't look "as modern" as what Ricky was doing. Jess: Napoleon and Tabitha give Jess and all-star Lauren a hip-hop routine about a guy who's cheatedand is trying win his girl back. Mary tells Jess that every week he's shown progress and he was "really good tonight" in what was "one of the really honest performances" he's given. Nigel agrees that Jess has matured significantly and appreciates that Jess "did not overplay" his expressions this week. Lady Gaga says she didn't personally love the choreography and props, but that was partially because his movements filled the space enough. Rob recalls seeing Jess on Broadway when he was much younger and points out that he has used the competition to mature. Tadd: Mandy Moore gives Tadd and all-star Lauren a fuky jazz routine that Tadd seemed to have a little trouble keeping up with. He dropped his hat at one point, but Nigel thought he did it "brilliantly." Lady Gaga says it was "amazing" and says Tadd can be whoever he wants to be as a dancer. Rob says Tadd surprised them with every move and "that's something that's really special." Mary says Tadd was "cool up there," and looked "like a young Elvis Presley" and drew a comparison to Michael Jackson. She reiterates Rob's claim that he's special, and adds that he's going to land himself in the finale.Marko: Sonya Tayeh gives Marko and all-star Allison a contemporary routine about being nice to people. Lady Gaga is crying, while standing on her ridiculously tall platform shoes. The audience and dancers are all in tears, and Cat seems to be the only one holding it together. Gaga says she's really proud of him and says some stuff about things she did wrong when she was younger. Marko cries while saying it's the first chance his mom has had a chance to see the show live and she flew in from Guam to see him. He tells her he's sorry for having been "a brat" when he was younger. Rob praises Allison and says they were all "so moved" by watching Marko. Mary is going to struggle to get through it, saying Marko's dance was "amazing." She announces Marko is his favorite dancer on the show. Nigel says they've "seen a moment that is more than the competition." He tells everyone to tell their mothers how much they're loved.Caitlynn & Tadd: The randomly paired couple get a classic foxtrot from Jonathan Roberts. Rob says it was "sparkling from beginning to end." Mary says they two of them "are shining stars," but notes that it won't be one of the more memorable dances of the night for her. Nigel cracks some jokes about a B-boy doing ballroom. Lady Gaga says she loved it, including the flower in Caitlynn's hair. Marko & Ricky: Tabitha and Napoleon work up a hip-hop routine for Marko and Ricky to perform together about a couple of janitors. Mary says she "loved it!" She calls it "another fabulous routine" from Tabitha and Napoleon. She says if everybody could dance with brooms like that the world would be a lot cleaner. Nigel predicts Ricky is going to be in the bottom after again pointing out that he was dancing "a little high." Lady Gaga says they're "both incredible dancers." She says they transcended the props they were given. Rob gives props to the choreographers, mostly, saying they do a great job in a short time. Jordan & Jess: Jason Gilkison gives Jess and Jordan a rumba that challenges Jess' lifting capability. Nigel praises Jess' lift, but says he didn't feel any chemistry between them. Gaga says there was "nothing wrong with it." She says she would have choreographed it differently, but they don't choose the songs or choreography. Rob says he felt like they were connected. Mary says it was beautiful but "not to the highest level."Melanie & Sasha: Sonya Tayeh puts together an all-girl jazz routine for Sasha and Melanie. The crowd goes wild and everyone rises to their feet. Cat struggles to quiet the crowd so the judges can speak. Gaga says that in the dance community, you give praise by throwing a shoe on the stage, so she hurls one of her massive platforms onto the stage. She also calls is the "dance of the night." Rob says it was "unbelievable" and gives props to Sonya. Mary says they "just brought it" and "just threw it all on that stage." She tells Sonya is was the best number of the night and the best Sonya's ever done. She calls is a masterpiece. Nigel agrees it was "fantastic." He says he's thankful he doesn't have to decide which of them is better. He says one of the two of them could be this year's champion.
S8.E19 ∙ Two of 8 Voted Off
The Top 8 are going to be whittled down to six on "So You Think You Can Dance," but first a big and dramatic group dance about a traveling circus (to the music of the movie, "Water for Elephants") choreographed by Tyce Diorio.Rob Marshall is back on the judges' table with Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy. He talks about how great of a guest judge Lady Gaga was on Wednesday and Cat notes that Gaga isn't at the table because she's going to be performing later. She's probably warming up in her egg, or something.To the results: Cat calls for all four ladies to take center stage. Sasha's night is recapped and we're reminded of how great the judges thought she was. Nigel had called her his favorite in the competition, but that was not replayed (he later changed his mind, saying Melanie is his new favorite). Jordan's night brought a big scream from Mary early on, but her second dance didn't work for Nigel. Caitlynn's hip-hop routine won her some points from the judges and her foxtrot had the judges excited, as well. Melanie was a star and earned Nigel's "favorite dancer" and he was later glad he didn't have to be the one to decide whose performance was the best.After letting them dangle through a commercial break, Cat announces that the top two girls are ... Sasha and Melanie. That means Jordan and Caitlynn will be performing solos later.Cat calls the top four guys to the stage. We're reminded of how the judges loved Jess' hip-hop routine but weren't wild about his rumba with Jordan, which Nigel felt lacked chemistry. Marko's two performances were well received and his contemporary routine with all-star Allison became an emotional moment that brought most people in the crowd to tears, and we saw backstage that his mother became even more emotional backstage. Cat announces that the first guy through to next week is Marko. That means Jess will be dancing a solo tonight.After a commercial we run through Ricky's night, where he impressed the judges with his technique (but Nigel's remarks about him needing to get deeper into the floor), but after a well received hip-hop routine Nigel told Ricky he might be in the bottom two. Tadd, on the other hand, was told by Mary that she could see him getting to the finale and Nigel told him he was "not be biting the dust this week" (a reference to the Queen song Tadd performed to). The second guy safe and moving on to next week is ... Ricky. That's a surprise, but Tadd seems to be alright with it. Presumably, with the decision in the judges' hands -- given their remarks on Wednesday night -- Tadd has reason to feel comfortable.Be our guests: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers takes the stage. Later, Lady Gaga performs "The End of Glory" and her new single "You and I."Cat plugs National Dance Day, which is two days away. To the solos: Jordan works some big body-control and long-legged moves for her solo, while Jess opts for an all-out Broadway extravaganza that includes nearly a full 15 seconds of spins.Caitlynn goes for some sensual moves, perhaps to show she's grown up and doesn't have that " Tadd works some serious B-boy moves, including hanging perpendicularly off the rafters on the side of the stage and showing off some leg moves and finishing with a big flip off the stage. The decisions: Nigel says the judges started off not being unanimous with either decision, but they became unanimous when they realized that regardless of the outcome they'd be sending a great dancer home. Nigel says they were disappointed with both of the girls' solos. He thanks Jordan for everything she's brought to the show, but she's going home.Nigel tells Jess he's a sensational character and has grown. He tells Tadd he's unique and creative, so much so that they're keeping him. This means Jess is out.
S8.E20 ∙ Top 6 Perform
And then there were six. With one week remaining until the Season 6 "So You Think You Can Dance" finale, the final six dancers are competing, as host Cat Deeley says, "for the right to be there."As the introductions are made, it's almost painfully clear that Caitlynn and Ricky are going to be the ones left out. But, as they say, that's why you play the game. Guest judges Christina Applegate and Lil C join regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. Christina tells us she's been dancing since she was 3 and continued until she got pregnant with her daughter. After yet another plug for National Dance Day, which happened over the weekend, we get to some performances.Melanie: Napoleon and Tabitha give Melanie a "Little Red Riding Hood"-themed hip-hop routine, which she'll dance with Twitch. Lil C praises Melanie for "getting through" that routine, which was difficult and fast. He says the beginning was shaky, but she worked it out and it was on after the rocky start. Christina tells Melanie she's given her "hope." She tells Melanie she was "evil" (in a good way) in this routine. Mary tells Melanie that her brother called her about Melanie, something he's never done about any contestant, saying that she has a Shirley Temple-type charm. Nigel answers criticism that Melanie has only been given styles she's good at, and says she's "good at everything." He tells her she's "absolutely sensational" and should keep doing what she's doing.Sasha: Last season's sweetheart Kent joins Sasha for a Tyce Diorio routine about a couple that's hit a wall in their relationship. Sasha gets emotional talking about how she "definitely can relate to this piece." She has a little trouble keeping it together after the performance, as well. Christina says there are other dancers who are great, technically, but she doesn't care. She says Sasha put her finger against a wall and broke her heart -- "that's dance." Mary calls it "absolutely intoxicating, for sure." Mary also gets emotional while pointing to a moment in the performance when Kent threw Sasha down to the floor, saying, "So many of us have been there and it's what you do when you get back up." Nigel agrees, saying Tyce was "at his creative best" and Sasha's sharing of emotion. Nigel also says Sasha is once again his favorite. Lil C is trying to hold it together, saying he understands everything Sasha was conveying in her performance. Marko: Dmitry Chaplin gives Marko and all-star Janette a paso doble. Mary reminds us all what the paso is about, calling it the "most riveting" of ballroom dances. She praises his style in the beginning, but notes that he lost his footing a couple of times. She remarks that his trick, flipping Janette around his neck as if she was the matador's cape, is one of the most memorable she's seen. Nigel says the whole routine left him a little cold, but that trick stood out for his, as well. Lil C says he loves the way Marko performs and he loved every minute of Marko's routine. Christina admits she knows nothing about the paso, so she doesn't know how to critique it, but she wanted Marko to dig deeper into his crotch (using Lil C's reference) in demonstrating his bravado. Tonight's solos will be preceded by thoughts from the dancers' loved ones back home. Ricky's mom says it's been like a dream watching her son on the show after having watched the show with him at her side for so long. He does his solo.Tadd: Sonya Tayeh gives Tadd a contemporary routine, calling it a period piece harkening back to a time when things were more conservative and this couple finds ways to sneak in some romance. He's partnered with Ellenore. Nigel remarks on the "interesting positions" in there, but he would "like to see a little more dancing." He says it needed to develop more. Lil C praises Sonya, but tells Tadd he has to "make each move last a lifetime." He felt like the movements were happening too quickly from one to the next. Christina says it was "remarkable." She says she loves Tadd and that he did so many things she wouldn't expect from a B-boy. Mary says Tadd's ability is extraordinary. She says some judges thought maybe Tadd had reached his limit last week, but he hasn't and he's still growing. Mary calls Sonya's choreography "so daring," but shows the kind of trust Sonya has in Tadd.Caitlynn's mom says she's the "proudest mom in the whole world," and her dad sends his wishes through a video chat from an oil rig in the Black Sea. Ricky: Dee Caspary gives Ricky and Season 3's Jamie a contemporary routine that involves Ricky orchestrating the dance with sticks in his hands. Lil C praises Ricky for dancing with a prop, and for using a prop that alters the way he does everything. Christina loves it, but tells Ricky that he sometimes doesn't dance with the clearest of intention. Mary says Ricky saved himself again. Nigel praises Dee for the whole concept of the routine. He again tells Ricky he's "such a high dancer" that he wants him to dig deeper into the floor when he performs. Tadd's dad says he's backing Tadd all the way to the top. His solo includes a pretty impressive one-armed handstand that lasts for probably the final 10 seconds of the routine. Sasha's dad says he started crying the first time he saw Sasha on the stage. Her mom wishes her luck. Caitlynn: Dmitry is back with a samba for Caitlynn, who is joined by all-star Pasha. Dmitry vows to make this no longer a family show, urging Caitlynn to crank up the sexiness. Christina seems surprised to hear herself saying Caitlynn did "really well." Mary tells Caitlynn that when a contestant gets a second chance to do another number, the judges expect it to be better ... and this one was. She runs down the list of technical moves that Caitlynn nailed. Nigel reminds Caitlynn not to "pull sexy faces" and to let the moves do the talking. Lil C says he' agrees with everyone on the panel, and tells Caitlynn to "swan dive" into the sexy moves rather than "cannonball." Marko's mom cries while thinking about how she cried watching him dance on the show for the first time.Melanie's mom tells us her daughter's "always been a performer" and says it's "surreal" watching Melanie dance on the show. She tells her daughter to "dance great, but most of all, have a wonderful, wonderful time."Sasha & Ricky: Kumari Suraj gives Sasha and Ricky a "whacking" routine that takes a lot of fast and precise movements. Mary says she never really loved this style, but Princess Lockeroo took it to another level earlier this season. She says Sasha and Ricky weren't quite up to that level, but really good. She says the whacking was slacking just a little. Nigel says he doesn't think the whacking was lacking anything. He says he enjoyed the fun of it, but tells Ricky to relax more and not worry so much about it. He's wowed by Sasha, though, and says she proved everything the judges said earlier about not having to push being sexy. Lil C offers up some "constructive criticism," saying he wanted to see them "enjoy it a little bit more." Christina says she enjoyed it, but they could have "whacked it harder" -- probably the 25th "whacking" pun of the last four minutes.Melanie & Tadd: Broadway choreographer Spencer Liff gives them a routine that's a rehearsal within a rehearsal, where one of the dancers thinks her partner is falling in love with her, but he's really just playing the part. Nigel takes a moment to recognize that Melanie's solos was probably the best he's ever seen on the show. Going back to this routine, he tells Melanie she's a brilliant actress on top of being a "beast" of a dancer. He tells her she's again gone back up to being his favorite dancer. He tells Tadd he "didn't suck," which is great considering he was dancing next to one of the best dancers the show has ever seen. Lil C says Melanie's "artistry speaks for itself." He says she is "extremely buck." He also takes a moment to tell Melanie her solo was "so beefy." He tells Tadd he's growing leaps and bound. Christina again says Melanie had all the judges pounding the table watching Melanie's solo and that Tadd is again doing things a B-boy shouldn't know how to do. Mary says she's honored to have witnessed this season.Caitlynn & Marko: Sonya Tayeh gives Caitlynn and Marko a jazz routine that forces them to wipe away any sexy and happy stuff. They have to be a little more beastly. Lil C tells us about how hashtags work on Twitter, then says "this routine was double-hashtag buck." Christina says wow, and tells Marko he's a beast, saying his aggression was "so beautiful and powerful and palpable." She sighs, telling Caitlynn that was "her moment." Mary jokes that she didn't really care for it, then tells Caitlynn it was one of her "best numbers ever." She says, "This time, you brought the true grit to it." Then she says Marko's always been a beast and her favorite dancer on the show. Nigel says he "was a little upset" with the chandelier routine (Tadd's earlier) and that this one proved why she's "a world-class choreographer." He tells Caitlynn she "came of age tonight." He asks her to keep hold of it now.
S8.E21 ∙ Two of 6 Voted Off
The Top 6 start Thursday night's results show with a Justin Giles group dance. Lil C is back on the panel with regulars Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. This week's celebrity guest judge Christina Applegate is absent. Tonight's results won't include a "bottom" group because, as Nigel explains, a bottom four would also tell us who the top two are. Instead, we're going to get a heck of a lot more filler -- er, amazing performances! Every dancer will do a solo, and "American Idol" finalist Pia Toscano will perform, as well as the Bad Boys of Dance, and a "special" performance from last season's winner and runner-up, Lauren and Kent. It's gonna be ... an hour.Sasha, Caitlynn and Melanie each do their solos, with Melanie getting yet another standing ovation from the crowd and judges. After more National Dance Day dispatches, Tadd, Marko and Ricky do their solos. Kent and Lauren return to the stage to perform "Collide," choreographed by Travis Wall -- one of the routines that was nominated for an Emmy. To the results: Cat calls the girls to the stage. Sasha's night is recapped first, and we're reminded of her waacking routine, but more importantly her deeply emotional Tyce Diorio contemporary piece that brought most everyone to tears. Caitlynn heated up the floor with a sizzling samba, and had her "moment" with the Sonya Tayeh lyrical jazz piece that ended the night. Melanie sent everyone into hysterics again with her Broadway piece and proved she can "do anything," according to Nigel, with her hip hop routine. The first girl into the finale is ... Melanie.The guys come out next, forming an impromptu conga line. Tadd didn't get great marks on his Sonya Tayeh jazz routine, in which eh hung from a chandelier most of the time. But he redeemed himself with a Broadway routine that made him look good, even while sharing the stage with Melanie. Marko tried to bring the heat with his paso doble, but Nigel wanted more heat, saying Marko left him "a little cold." He roared back into beast mode on his pairing with Caitlynn in the Sonya Tayeh lyrical jazz piece. Ricky got big praise for both his Dee Caspury routine and his waacking routine with Sasha. The first guy into the finale is ... Marko.Be our guests: The Bad Boys of Dance take the stage, living up to their billing at first, but then a girl joins them. She's pretty bad, too (in a good way), but this still causes a bit of confusion. Back to the results: Sasha and Caitlynn come back to the stage. Nigel says they both know how much he loves them, but Caitlynn overthinks her routines a little too much, Melanie dances from her heart and Sasha dances from her soul. He says it doesn't matter who wins because "at the end of the day, dance wins." Cat finally announces that the second girl into the finale is Sasha. Caitlynn is out. Be our guest, again: Smacked right in between the girls' results and the guys', Pia Toscano performs her new single, "This Time," a likely effort to boost some pretty flat sales.Back to the results, again: Cat abruptly calls for Ricky and Tadd to come to the stage, and announces that the final guy into the finale is Tadd.
S8.E22 ∙ Top 4 Perform
It's down to the final four on "So You Think You Can Dance," which means this week we'll have a winner. And even though there are only four dancers left, there are still two hours to fill, er kill (take your pick), which means there will be a whole lot of dancing.Guest judges Kenny Ortega and Katie Holmes join regulars Mary Mupthy and Nigel Lythgoe on the panel this week.It might be too much trouble to keep up with who's dancing what, and with which all-stars, but suffice it to say there will be many performances by many combinations of dancers, including all-stars Mark (Season 4), Joshua (Season 4), Lauren (Season 7) and Robert (Season 7).We get started with a big reunion of the couple that got us through the early portion of the competition: Melanie & Marko.Melanie & Marko: Reunited, they get a disco routine from Doriana Sanchez that is as far as ever and puts both of them off their game just a bit. Nigel says it was a bit of a struggle for them and he hopes to see better in their subsequent performances later in the night. Mary adores them, but says it needs to "pop" to another level. Kenny praises them and says they looked like they came straight out of "Saturday Night Fever," which Katie says they're beautiful and claims she understood the story they were telling -- with their disco routine.Sasha & Mark: Sonya Tayeh cooks up a big, emotional contemporary routine for Sasha and all-star Mark that starts a little slow but picks up quickly. Mary gets al worked up and gives a hearty, "woo-hoo!!!" Kenny notes that it was a little bit of "art imitating life" and adds that it was like "Sasha Warrior Princess." Katie calls it powerful while Nigel says that Sasha just threw down "the gauntlet."Tadd & Joshua: Lil C cooks up a hip-hop routine for B-boy Tadd to dance with Joshua, champion of Season 4. Kenny says it was a perfect pairing while Katie says it was "terrific." Nigel wasn't too wild about it, saying he found "a little too sweet."Mary says they "delivered everything" and did enough to produce a hard-hitting hip-hop routine.Melanie & Robert: Melanie gets right back on the stage for a contemporary routine choreographed by Stacey Tookey. She dances with all-star Robert and redeems herself from the dismal disco routine earlier. Katie says every movement made sense to her and she believes "every story." Nigel agrees it was "beautifully danced," and points out a particular lift he thought was great. Mary says that "something special" happens when Melanie dances, as the whole room gets quiet. She says Melanie is in a class of her own. Kenny says he'd jump to the front of the line to work with her.Sasha & Marko: Broadway brings a Spencer Liff routine for Sasha and Marko, who seems to perform it quite nicely, at least according to some judges. Nigel, however, isn't "knocked out" by it, noting that Sasha makes a better warrior princess than a vamp. Mary disagrees, saying they "pulled it off," and noting especially that she didn't believe it was really Marko. Kenny calls it "great fun" and says there's nothing they can't do, while Katie tells Sasha she admires her and tells Marko he's "incredible."Solos from Melanie and Marko are followed by...Sasha & Tadd: Mark Ballas continues the tradition of "Dancing with the Stars" pros coming over to "So You Think You Can Dance," except he has no direct history with the show, like most other "DWTS" stars do. He choreographs a cha-cha for Sasha and Marko. Kenny sees right through it, noting it was "too ambitious for tonight." Katie sees right, umm, past it, saying thank you to both of them and telling them they're "both strong dancers." Nigel tells Marko he couldn't cope with the style and says it wasn't good for Sasha, either. Mary also agrees that there were lots of problems with the routine, even though they had to deal with what was given to them.Marko & Lauren: Tessandra Chavez gives Marko and all-star Lauren Performed to somewhat oddball music, Marko and Lauren show off some pretty decent moves. Katie says they creates pictures that were stunning,or something lie that. Nigel says Marko joined the finale with that routine because it was "a fabulous performance." Mary says Marko "thrust greatness" upon himself. Kenny says Marko swept him away,Melanie & Tadd: After Tadd dances his solo, he takes to the floor with Melanie for a Ray Leeper routine. They get a routine that calls for stipping and throwing shoes and taking off of clothes, and it all works. Nigel says it brought his evening to life, then cracks jokes about Tadd not wearing clothes. He adds that Tadd "totally redeemed" himself with that routine. Mary says that Tadd brought sexy back. Kenny says that Melanie had him gripped to the stage before she even started dancing, and Katie says the routine was "a breath of fresh air."Sasha & Melanie: After dancing her solo, Sasha returns to the stage with Melanie for a Stacey Tookey routine about repressed housewives. Once again, they send the whole crowd into a tizzy. Mary says it's beautiful to watch them dance together and she enjoyed "every single second" of the routine. Kenny says he felt helpless and curious and that it was a beautiful piece. Katie loved their outfits and Nigel tells them they could grace any dance company in the country.Marko & Tadd: The guys get a gumboot stepping routine from Chuck Maldonado. It's a little out there and most of the judges are on board with the quirky concept. Kenny congratulates them and wishes them luck on Thursday while Katie tells them they're great. Mary says it was "solid gold" for her and she loved the concept, but Nigel says nothing that happened tonight changes his mind from the position he held at the beginning of the night, which is that a girl would win the competition.
S9.E1 ∙ Dallas and New York Auditions
It's the ninth season of "So You Think You Can Dance," and host Cat Deeley assures us that "after eight seasons we thought we'd seen it all, but apparently not." The first stop is in New York, pulling talent from Broadway to the streets of Brooklyn, every surrounding borough and beyond. Joining Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy on the judging panel is Tyce Diorio. As you'll recall, each dancer gets a chance at a solo. The best of the best will be sent straight to Vegas for the next round, while any on-the-fence dancers will be sent on to a group choreography stage where some will move on and some won't. And the rest, well, it was a great trip. Amelia Lowe sort of conjures images of "The Artist," but producers weren't going to let that point go unnoticed. Her whole intro package was done in 1920s silent-movie style, but her performance lived up to the hype and she's off to Vegas.Toshihiko Nakazawa of Japan says he does a little hip hop, a little locking, a little popping and a little ballet. Once the language barrier is overcome, Toshihiko's performance is captivating. Nigel says it was reminiscent of Twitch because he didn't know what to expect next. Tyce tells Toshihiko that his body is "like a musical instrument." He'll come back for choreography.Austin Freeman, 21, is a nerdy looking guy who says he's going to be dancing "the wiggle." He says he does this all over New York City, which he says sometimes prompts laughter and gets people to make fun of him. He says his goal in life is "to become a celebrity." He wiggles his body while music plays and is sent packing.After a montage of good dances, we meet Shafeek Westbrook of Philadelphia, who's a master flipper, but his audition is a demonstration of raw physical control. He does some amazing tricks, flips and handstands. Nigel says Shafeek brings something unique to the show. Mary says it's unlike anything she's ever seen before. Tyce tells Shafeek he moves "like silk." He's got a ticket to Vegas.At the end of the night, Toshihiko struggles in choreography and checks himself out of the competition. He couldn't lift his partner. A bunch more dancers get their tickets punched for Las Vegas.Day 2 in New York and we meet Leo Reyes, who says he's auditioning now for her mom, who had attempted suicide recently. He cries as he talks about how he'd taken his talent for granted and hadn't done anything with it that his mom could see. His moves bring the other dancers to their feet and get him to Vegas. He calls his mom to tell her he did it for her.After a montage of some terrible performance, we get a ballet dancer named Chehon Wespi-Tschopp of Zurich who says he's put his own twist on his ballet background. Sure enough, the judges are impressed. Tyce thinks Chehon needs to go to Vegas, so he does. For the second hour we head to Texas for the Dallas auditions, and Lil C is on the panel now. We meet Bree Hafen, a mother of two who says she's felt guilty for wanting to get back into dancing after dedicating her life to her kids for years. She's 29 and ready to give it a shot. Her two kids, 5-year-old Luke and 2-year-old Stella, come and sit in Nigel's chair to watch their mom. Bree impresses Nigel enough that he asks little Luke, "If I give you something will you give it to mommy?" Luke walks up to the edge of the stage with his mom's ticket to Vegas. After all the praise, little Stella gets her chance to show some moves and she brings the house down.Two creepy guys -- one who says he does "exorcist style" and another who does "zombie" style -- are coming next. First, Stepheon "The Zombie" Stewart, freaks everyone out -- in a good way -- with some impressive physical control in a sort of popping and locking performance. Lil C is fired up, saying, "That's what I wanted to see!" And, "I love my job." Nigel says it's "one of the most entertaining routines" he's seen. Lil C says that after all the time and energy and effort he's devoted to dance, performers like Stepheon are what keep him doing what he does. Hampton Williams tells the judges that he aims to cleanse the audience's soul through his dance. Everyone seems a little skeptical, if not downright afraid, but it's a riveting performance that has Mary crying, some of the other dancers in the crowd crying and giving him a standing ovation. Nigel tells Hampton that he "might be a genius." Nigel says he isn't sure how Hampton's skills will play out in the competition, but he doesn't care and he'll pay for it himself, regardless of what the other judges says. Mary seems convinced, though, still crying and saying she's never been so moved by that style of dance before. Lil C says he wants to kick Hampton in the face (in a good way). He says Hampton showed freestyle that no one's ever seen before. Daniel Baker from Australia now lives in San Francisco. He talks about a book his father gave him about America, and that's why he'd always wanted to live in the U.S. He took up ballet to get to America and gave up a job with the San Francisco Ballet to try out for the show. The crowd chants, "Vegas! Vegas! Vegas!" But the judges insist on playfully acting cool until handing him a ticket to Vegas.After another montage of Vegas-bound dancers, we meet Sam Shreffler, who explains that he's on the autism spectrum and his symptoms fluctuate. He does what he calls "lyrical freestyle." Nigel tells Sam that he won't be moving on to choreography, but urges Sam not to give up dancing.Up next is a B Boy trying out for a "mainstream" TV show called "So You Think You Can Dance," who says he despises the TV show called "So You Think You Can Dance," and isn't interested in going mainstream. Cat is clearly annoyed during her pre-audition interview and tells him to "go on, get out of here" before he heads to the stage. He immediately tells Nigel he disagrees with the way the show is run. His name is Von Kipper and while he shows off some decent moves, Lil C says he thinks the conversation with Nigel threw him off. Jarell Rochelle comes up next and explains that he wants to do something with his dancing while his mom -- who is going blind -- can still see it. Nigel invites Jarell's mom to his seat on the judges' table so she can get the close-up. She cries while she watches her son on stage, and Nigel can't help but smile. Nigel asks Jarell's mom to hand her son his ticket to Vegas.
S9.E2 ∙ Los Angeles Auditions
The "So You Think You Can Dance" auditions make their way to the west coast, where Jesse Tyler Ferguson joins regular judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy.After just missing the top 20 last season, Alexa Anderson is back for another shot. Nigel doesn't even want to say anything about the performance, and opts instead to simply hand Alexa her ticket to Vegas. Jontell "Johnny Waacks" Gibson is looking to bring whacking to the show, and Nigel is embarrassed when he asks the 20-year-old, "How long have you been whacking?" Things get even more interesting when Jontell explains that he learned the form by practice by himself. Nigel is impressed by Jontell's musicality. He's on to choreography.Eliana Girard says she's auditioning as a contemporary dancer, but she does a lot more. She went to Joffrey in New York and performed on an aerial pole in the Cirque du Soleil production of "Elvis." Nigel and Mary are stunned just watching the performance. She gets a standing ovation and it's pretty clear she'll be moving on. Nigel praises her "performance in the face and from the heart." He says "it was beautiful to watch and it didn't feel fake." He calls her one of the best girls this year. Mary says she was "like an instrument just playing that song with your body" and says Eliana is "definitely top 20 material." Jesse says she reminds him of Melanie. She's going to Vegas.A trio of dancers whose names we don't see are packaged in a montage and they're all headed to Vegas.Next is a montage of dynamic duos, and it leads us to Nick and James, "the ninja twins," who do everything together, including sharing the same room. They put on a very long shtick in the intro package and before their performance before auditioning together. They do their act to "Man in the Mirror" and the crowd loves it. But Nigel breaks the news that they are over the show's age limit. Still, he says he loved watching them and they've provided a bright spot on the show. Cat talks to Sam Lenarz, 18, who cries after saying that her audition routine is about how "everything's going to be better in the end." She then shares the story of her mom kicking her out of the house. She's been living with her best friend. The crowd loves the performance, but Nigel says he needs more heart and passion from her. She needs to resist just showing off specific moves and bring them together more artistically. Mary says something's holding her back, and she asks Sam if she gets support from her family. The judges put her through to choreography.Caley Carr, a 25-year-old surfer dude from Huntington Beach, says he's on the show to break out as a tap dancer. Jesse says he's a total cliche, the classic mustachioed surfer, tap dancer combination. He gets through to choreography. Megan Branch, 18, talks about how grateful she is for her mother's support before impressing the judges with her contemporary routine. Mary loves the energy and Jesse talks about how beautiful Megan. She goes straight through to Vegas. Cole Horibe puts together an impressive display of martial arts-style dance. It's intense and dramatic, and the judges love it. Nigel admires the body control Cole demonstrates and says he hasn't seen anything like it. He says he's also done a whole bunch of other styles of dance. David Matz is looking to get some respect for circus performers and he does his audition with a wheel. Nigel wants to see what more can be expected from David in choreography.Stephen Jacobsen says he's going to do ballet, but "not classical." Nigel and Mary agree it's terrible, but Nigel stops it short and tells Stephen he "should be shot" for choreographing so badly. Mary decides to give Stephen a chance to show some real ballet, and Nigel stops this performance short again -- but this time it's so he can give Stephen a ticket to Vegas. More dancers who have auditioned in previous seasons are back for another shot, including one girl who's made it to Vegas five times. She's off to the desert again. Jonathan Anzalone auditioned in Season 4, but admits he was a little cocky back then. He's now kind of embarrassed about it and says he's ready to show "the real me" and a "new person." He does some impressive and at times comical B-boying. it gets weird when Jonathan is asked to show some more moves and Nigel asks if any ladies in the crowd want to dance with Jonathan. The dancing gets a little wild and Jesse grabs a Vegas ticket and stuffs it into Jonathan's waistline. That wasn't the real deal, though, and Jonathan is asked to return for choreography.For three seasons, Jasmine Mason has watched her brother Marshea audition for the show, but this all changed six weeks before the audition. He was driving and swerved to avoid hitting a car that jumped in front of them. The crash was serious and Marshea ended up in a coma for two days and had neck injuries. Jasmine puts on an impressive jazz performance and the judges hand her a ticket. Remarkably, six weeks after his accident, Marshea takes the stage. Mary calls a stop to the performance and simply holds up a ticket to Vegas. In choreography, circus dancer David drops out. Jonathan, Caley and Johnny Waacks are out, as well, but Sam Lenarz is through to Vegas.
S9.E3 ∙ Atlanta Auditions
Quick over-under on how many times the term "Hot-lanta" will be uttered tonight? The "So You Think You Can Dance" auditions head to Atlanta, and host Cat Deeley immediately reminds us that last year's winner Melanie came from Georgia. Will another follow in her footsteps?Debbie Allen joins Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe on the judges' table. After a quick reminder on the rules, we're off and running.The first dancer has provided information to the producers touting her ability to fart with her neck, which Nigel asks her to prove and she does. Audrey Case, 18, then shows off some serious contemporary moves that highlight a ton of leg strength and control. The judges and the other dancers all love it. Nigel tells her she's great, but warns her that she's got to be able to do other things. He thinks she can, and she'll get her chance in Vegas. Three hip-hop dancers, the Dragon House Crew, who live together along with a good handful of other dancers. The first of the bunch to perform is Boris Penton, who wows the judges and the crowd with his intense body control. Nigel calls it "mesmerizing" and says it "was absolutely stunning to watch." Mary says she doesn't even "get" how he can do what he does without any training. Debbie calls it "pure artistry." Nigel asks him if he's gotten enough compliments yet, then hands him a ticket to Vegas. Joshua Alexander, an 18-year-old singer, guitarist and dance teacher, is barely finished with his routine when all three judges say nothing and hold up tickets to Vegas. Debbie tells Joshua that when he dances, it's like he's "testifying."Things are going incredibly well in Atlanta, and we get to see three dancers in a montage who talk about having overcome challenges -- a tough neighborhood, Terets syndrome, and losing one's mother at a young age -- and they're all headed to Vegas.Tim Conkel, a 21-year-old karate instructor, says he started dancing his freshman year in college to get girls. He doesn't just want to be America's favorite dancer, he wants to be America's favorite person. He displays some powerful moves, but Nigel isn't sure "where the dancing was." Debbie wonders if he can transform himself for other challenges. He says he can, and claims to have taken seven days of ballet. Nigel asks him to show what he's learned in a week of ballet to determine whether he'll go on to choreography or straight to Vegas. Tim shows enough, with a wink and a smile, to go to Vegas.Jackson Alvarez gives a powerful hip-hop routine before he mentions the fact that he leads line dancing at a local club, and Nigel asks a bunch of other dancers to come up and show the wobble. Jackson wobbles his way to choreography. Janelle Issis, a 23-year-old belly dancer from Alabama, gets Nigel's blood pumping and he cuts it short because "one heart attack's enough in my life." He praises her smile when she dances, and Mary calls her a star. She'll get to show some more moves in choreography.Danielle Dominguez immediately gets attention for her love of bacon. Sure enough, we see a whole highlight reel in which she eats a whole plate of bacon. Nigel then suggests to Mary and Debbie that they might want to try going on the all-bacon diet, which gets him into some trouble with the ladies. Nigel likes her performance, though he says he understand why people think she's "a weird dancer." Debbie thinks Danielle was "very sexy." Nigel and Mary both start talking about how she'd do great with Sonya Tayeh's choreography, and she gets sent to Vegas.Back to the Dragon House Crew, we meet Andre Rucker who delivers a robot-inspired routine that send the crowd to its feet. Mary calls him "incredible," and she says every year she sees something so new and unusual and he's now among those. Debbie says it's "beyond magical, it's mystical almost." The third and final Dragon House Crew member, Cyrus "Glitch" Spencer, says he's going to show the judges what a robot-popper looks like. He delivers an extended performance that has the crowd and the judges on their feet. Nigel calls it "absolutely remarkable." Nigel hands him a ticket to Vegas, meaning all three Dragon House dancers are headed to the desert heat.In choreography, Jackson and Janelle both get sent to Vegas, along with 13 more dancers who get their tickets punched.The second day of Atlanta's auditions brings us Courtney Kirby, whose grandmother is with her and is just the sweetest lady you could imagine. Grandma used to be a dancer and instructor, back when it was just ballet and tap, she says, "not all this flipping and everything." Grandma gets a seat next to Nigel so she can get an up-close look at her granddaughter. Grandma's critique is that it was "beautiful" and "couldn't have been better." Debbie ultimately votes to send Courtney to Vegas, but Nigel wants to see her in choreography, leaving the tie breaking vote to Mary. Courtney's going to Vegas.Asher Walker, a hip-hop dancer from Glade Hill, Va., which "has about zero" hip-hop dancers, as he puts it. He tells Nigel that he'd like to be a backup dancer for Justin Bieber if he can. After an impressive performance, Asher is going to Vegas.George Lawrence II talks about how his dad wanted him to be an athlete and he was a track star for some time. But his dad was "crushed" when his son gave up track for dancing. He thinks getting a ticket to Vegas would help get his dad on his "side" when it comes to dance. Mary says George's performance was probably the best she's seen in the auditions. Debbie says she's "so happy" to have been a part of George's journey.Next we get a montage of dancers who head straight to Vegas, including Abigail Ruz, Calvin Turner Jr., and Aubrey Klinger.Finally, there's a run of bad dancers and even some dancers who can't remember their names and ages when they;re asked to introduce themselves on camera. One of those is Brittany ortner, who is from Oviedo, Fla., which is apparently home to a lot of chickens that roam the streets and are protected by a local law. There's nothing fowl about Brittany's performance, though, and the judges agree she's gotta get out of chicken town. The judges agree to send Brittany to choreography.Dancers Damon Bellmon and Deon Lewis are back and looking to get more girls' phone numbers. They're trying to play their whole cool-guys thing when Cat calls them out on the fact that they stole their choreography during last season's audition from a duo called Les Twins, who'd posted a video on YouTube. Damon and Dion claim it was "a tribute" and "a big misunderstanding." They go to the tape from last season and there is, in fact, a clip of them noting that their routine was "inspired by" a duo called Les Twins, but the footage wasn't used on the show. They get another chance, and are sent to choreography.Deon doesn't make it, but Damon makes it. Brittany is headed west, as well, along with 13 more Georgia dancers.
S9.E4 ∙ Salt Lake City Auditions
"So You Think You Can Dance" lands in Salt Lake City, a town host Cat Deeley says has never let them down, for the final stop on the audition tour.After a quick review of how audition rounds work, we're off and rolling for two hours.Witney Carson, 18, says she's ready to bring some sensuality and confidence to her Latin ballroom routine, even though she says that off stage she's "just a normal teenage girl." She wasn't lying about the sensuality, which had the judges in awe and brought them and the crowd to their feet afterward. Nigel refers to ballroom dancer Anya, one of the show's all-time most beloved dancers, and says Witney is right there with her. Mary says there's "something that just changes" in Witney when she starts dancing, and she gives us the first Hot Tamale Train whistle. Adam says Witney is everything the show is about. And she's off to Vegas.Lynn Gravatt, 33, an unemployed former aerospace engineer, says she's doing an "alien space dance," which she says comes from space because she doesn't fit in a box. She says a "force" one day came through her and says a whole bunch of other stuff about different different alien personalities that live in her. Her audition doesn't last long, but Nigel says she has a great spirit. Mary says Lynn really does look happy when she dances, and Adam tells her that even if there isn't a place for her on the show, "there's a very special place for you in this world." We get a little montage of dancers whose loved ones came along for the audition, leading into a performance from Deanna Tomaseta, 19,, who has a big Italian family and is the only girl. And we go through a whole thing where her brothers and male cousins talk about how she'd "better not have a boyfriend." Mary says she loved "every single second" of it and that she "couldn't have asked for a better audition." Adam says she has "unbelievable technique" and transitions. Nigel gives her a ticket to Vegas. After a run of oddball auditions, we see Gene Lonardo, 22, who says his dance is inspired by the life cycle of a male preying mantis. He claims he has a "very creative" way of having his head eaten off by the female preying mantis after mating. Nigel say sit was "intriguing" and "entertaining." Mary says she loved it and Adam tells him he's "sort of brilliant." Nigel and Adam agree that Sonya and other choreographers would love him. The Vegas resident is heading home -- for the next round.Lindsey Arnold, 19, is the oldest of four girls and loves living in Provo, Utah. She's performing Latin ballroom, which she says is a little more exciting than usual as she incorporates other styles. Nigel says she was "absolutely fabulous." He says she is both a good performer and technician. Mary says Lindsey reminds her of Julianne Hough. And she's headed to Vegas. Having already seen two ballroom dancers, we're treated to a montage of ballroom dancers, until a little blond girl steps up and announces she's going to crump. Mariah Spears vows she's "going to shock America" with her crumping. Adam calls her the best girl crumper he's seen on the show. Mary says Mariah was a huge surprise, but notes that Mariah is the most believable female crumper. Nigel says he often sees people claim they're going to do hip-hop, "and it's all very weak and white." She's through to choreography.Murphy Yang is nervous and says he has "mixed emotions." He says he's spent the last year on his own and his parents haven't supported his dancing because they wanted him to be a doctor or lawyer. He says his family moved away and he was left homeless. He talks about his girlfriend pulling him out of "this dark place." Nigel loves it, saying Murphy is "an entertainer," even though there weren't really enough moves for him. He's asked to return for choreography.After choreography, Murphy is cut. His girlfriend is there with a hug while he cries. Mariah and 10 others are headed to Vegas.The next day it's a new crowd and Dareian Kujawa is the first dancer up. He says he's very confident. He tells his story of growing up poor in St. Paul, Minn. He says dancing pulled him out of a dark place and gave him faith and "something to believe in." Nigel loved it, but tells Dareian he has "lousy feet" and needs to work on them. Adam says Dareian is what the show is all about. He's got time to work on his feet while awaiting his trip to Vegas.Things are about to get silly as ballroom dancer Johnny Ahn, who sees himself as quite the player. There's a whole thing about his player ways, which fail miserably. He's been taking a dating course that teaches techniques to get women to date. His partner Whitney Hallam, who is also competing, just plays along and says the course has helped their dancing in terms of the chemistry they need to dance together. Oddly enough, Mary notes that Johnny hardly ever looks at Whitney. Adam says the charm was better than the dancing. They both advance to choreography. Three dancers who've made it to Vegas in the past -- and whose names we don't see -- are on to Vegas to try again. Adiran Lee took his elimination in Season 7 very hard when Mary delivered the news that he wasn't going to the final round. He's ready to try it again. He says he regretted not coming back to audition for Season 8, and didn't want to continue avoiding the show, which he calls his dream. Adam loved it, even though the choreography wasn't the best. Mary agrees, saying he has all the real tools. He's going to Vegas.We get a montage of good dancers who are going to Vegas leading into Rachel Applehans' audition. She says she was really shy as a kid, but that seems to have faded as she shows off her moves in a white bustier and short shorts. There's almost no response, but Adam finally says that "if some things were a little different in my life I would move to Salt Lake City." Mary says Rachel's "burlesque jazz" was good and she'd like to see her in choreography. Nigel agrees.A string of bad dancers are making the judges weary, but Leroy Martinez is hoping he'll bring something different for the judges. He's a fairly heavy-set guy who runs a program for kids to have a place to go after school. Adam is genuinely blown away by Leroy's power moves, including a couple of blackflips and one into a headstand. The crowd erupts and gives Leroy a standing ovation. Adam tells Leroy that he's a big inspiration and an example of "why dancing is so amazing and so important." Mary says Leroy is the kind of person "we want to root for." Nigel gives a little speech about how dance "makes us be better people." He says Leroy embodies the spirit. He tells Leroy that he might not be competitive on the show, and admits he doesn't think he'll be able to do choreography, but he gets a chance. In choreography, Johnny is bounced. Whitney is cut, as well. Rachel is going to Vegas. And, finally, it's decision time for Leroy. He gets another standing ovation, but he won't be staying in the competition.
S9.E5 ∙ Las Vegas Callbacks
Held at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the first time in nine seasons, contestants were allowed to choose their own groups for the group choreography, 35 dancers remained at the close of the week.
S9.E6 ∙ Top 20 Revealed/Meet the Top 20
It's a very special night on "So You Think You Can Dance," so says host Cat Deeley. First, it's the show's 200th episode. Second, we're meeting the Top 20. And third, there's a wonderful panel of experts that includes Zooey Deschenel. Nigel Lythgoe announces that one of the changes coming to the show this season is that there will be two winners -- the best guy and the best girl.First, we have to go back in time to see the process involved in cutting the final 35 dancers to the final 20. They all came to Hollywood to meet with the judges face to face and learn their fates. First up is Alexa, who was the final dancer nixed from the Top 20 last year. She came back strong, but struggled in Vegas to meet the judges' expectations. She wants to show the judges and America her personality. Tyce tells her she showed some great fight in Vegas, and it was enough. She's in. George Lawrence II, a powerhouse in his audition and through Vegas Week, gets the news from Debbie Allen. He's in the Top 20. After that, Will Thomas made it. Megan Branch was the next girl to find out if she was in or out, and Lil C tells her she will not be in the Top 20. Colin Fuller is also not through.Amber Jackson, who made it to the final cut in Season 6 but didn't make it quite that far in Season 7, after which she said she'd never try out again. She dropped the attitude and returned for Season 9, and she's in. And the first four -- Alexa, Amber, George and Will -- perform a Tyce DiOrio routine. Afterward, Nigel says the whole Top 20 are superstars and that not one of the first four dancers let themselves down. He tells Will, a big and tall guy, he needs to move as fast as "the little ones." Nigel tells Amber he's happy to see her negative attitude is gone and she's a real star. He tells Alexa she's found her performance, and he rounds out the praise by telling George that if every light in the studio went out, he would still shine. The ballroom dancers -- of which there were many -- are going to see where they landed next. Nick Bloxsom-Carter is very emotional and breaks down, but he can stop the crying because he's in. Lindsay Arnold and Witney Carson, competitors since childhood in the world of ballroom dancing, are told jointly by Mary Murphy that the judges "are looking for one ballroom girl." Mary tells Witney she's in the Top 20. Mary milks the moment for a bit before telling Lindsay that she's also in the Top 20. Nick, Lindsay and Witney then perform together. Mary says the train just pulled up to the sizzle station. She's happy to have three ballroom dancers in the Top 20. She wants more, stronger moves from Nick. She then calls Witney and Lindsay "two of the hottest tamales" that have ever been on the show. Zooey says she was worried for Nick because the girls are such "firecrackers" and he could've been hurt. Eiana Girard is told by Debbie that she's headed into the Top 20. This leaves ballet boys Daniel Baker and Cheyon Wespi-Tschopp, who both left solid dancing jobs behind to try out for the show. They're brought in together. Daniel, whose consistent performances wowed the judges, gets into the Top 20. Keon, who had a remarkable and memorable moment, is also invited to stay. Eliana, Daniel and Cheyon perform together. Next up, Tiffany Maher "brought the heat" while Audrey Case "brought the sweet," as Cat puts it. The two jazz dancers are paired, but visit the judges separately. Tiffany goes first and is told she's in. Audrey's nervous, thinking there isn't room for both jazz dancers. She's in. Meanwhile, Abigail Riuz, Kaitlynn Edgar, Katie Muth and Rebecca Hart, are all gone. Janelle Issis then becomes the first belly dancer to make it into the Top 20. Janelle smacked her head on the doorway trying to be dramatic when she walked out to deliver the good news. She's fine, but making things worse is that she became ill during rehearsals for Wednesday's performance and had to sit it out. She'll be fine for next week, though. Joshua Alexander, whose Vegas Week ended with a disastrous fall onto the back of his head and didn't get a chance to perform his solo. He's not going to continue on the show. Bad news followed for Blake Zelesnikar, Jasmine Mason and Daniel Kemaides.With seven spaces and 12 dancers remaining, Matthew Kazmierczak gets good news. Dareian Kujawa rides an emotional wave after watching Matthew celebrate, realizing how much this would mean to him. Then he finds out he's in the Top 20. Janaya French has struggled to make a life of dancing in Los Angeles. There were only two girls left: Amelia Lowe and Jill Johnson. Janaya gets through and that leaves Amelia and Jill knowing that there's just one spot left between the two of them. Tyce tells them they're looking for "star quality," and with that he tells Amelia she's in the Top 20. Amelia, Dareian, Janaya and Matthew then perform together. Cole Horibe makes it to the Top 20, but tappers Aaron and Zach are tapped out. Steppers Devan McCullough and Brandon Mitchell are sent in to see the judges together. Debbie tells Devan he isn't in and Brandon is. With just one spot left, hip-hop dancer Feliciano Turk and animator Cyrus Spencer wait for word on their fate. Feliciano handled other styles very well during Vegas Week, while Cyrus struggled. Lil C tells Feliciano he brings "such quality of entertainment," and praises Cyrus for having the attitude of a student. Nigel tells Cyrus he's in, and Feliciano is out. He warns Cyrus that he "better bring it" because they've put a lot on his shoulders. Cole, Brandon and Cyrus perform together. The Top 20:AlexaAmberGeorgeWillNickWitneyLindsayElianaDanielCheyonTiffanyAudreyJanelleMatthewDareianJanayaAmeliaColeBrandonCyrus
S11.E2 ∙ Auditions #2
The second round of auditions features hopefuls in Chicago and Los Angeles. Guest judges include Jenna Elfman and Fabrice Calmels (Chicago); and Christina Applegate (Los Angeles).
S11.E3 ∙ Auditions #3
The third round of auditions features dancers in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Christina Applegate is the guest judge in Los Angeles, while Billy Porter and Misty Copeland share the honor in Philadelphia.
S11.E4 ∙ Auditions #4
Auditions continue in Atlanta with guest judges Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Charles "Lil Buck" Riley.
S13.E11 ∙ The Next Generation: Top 5 Perform + Elimination
Top 5 dancers perform. The next generation dancers take over and choreograph their own dances. Maddie Ziegler and Travis Wall perform.
S14.E1 ∙ Los Angeles Auditions: No. 1
Hopefuls perform for the judges, vying for a place in the callback rounds.
S14.E14 ∙ Top 4 Perform
Although the Final Four are temporarily safe from elimination, they must continue to demonstrate their talents before the judges and the country.
S15.E13 ∙ Top 4 Perform
Although the Final Four are temporarily safe from elimination, they must continue to demonstrate their talents before the judges and the country.
S16.E1 ∙ Judges Auditions 1
Season 16 opens with brand new judges, new camera angles, new stage and even more amazing dancers.
S16.E6 ∙ Academy Part 1
The first round of the academy callbacks begin with dancers vying for a spot in the top 10.
S16.E15 ∙ Live Finale Winner Announced
Today is the great Live Finale Winner Announced.
